00:00 – In the last story of the Sipurey Masiyos – Rabbi Nachman’s story of The Seven Beggars – the fourth beggar (with a crooked neck) speaks about two birds who have been distanced from one another. The beggar describes his talent as a ventriloquist whereby he throws his voice to imitate the sound of each bird until the two are reunited. This alludes to the way Hashem used His “Voice” the first time He spoke to the prophet Shmuel.

04:31 – The Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) is captured by the Philistines. This incident relates to a later moment in Jewish history when Dovid Hamelech (King David) defeats the giant Golias (Goliath).

08:46 – The heroism of Shaul (Saul) even before he is made king. He risks his life, alone, to rescue the luchos (tablets of the Torah) from the Aron Kodesh.

13:49 – The death of Eli HaKohen and his sons.

15:34 – The Philistines celebrate their victory in the city of Ashdod but their idol, Dagan (a kind of “merman” figure) is destroyed and a plague breaks out. They move the Aron Kodesh to other locations but the trouble continues until they decide to let oxen pulling the wagon decide to return it to the Jews.

22:11 – Shmuel gives rebuke to Israel. The Philistines are defeated by Hashem through thunder.

25:08 – The People of Israel ask for a King and Shaul is annointed by Shmuel.

29:29 – Why was Shmuel HaNavi angry that the People of Israel asked for a king, when it’s actually a mitzvah in the Torah? The response includes some of the Seven Mitzvos (commandments) of the Bnei Noach (descendants of Noah) as listed in Sanhedrin 58b:

1) Do not murder.

2) Do not steal.

3) Do not worship false gods.

4) Do not commit adultery.

5) Do not eat the limb of a living animal.

6) Do not curse God.

7) Set up courts and bring offenders to justice.

38:32 – King Yeravam Ben Nevat (Jeroboam) threatens the prophet, his hand shrinks (Melachim Aleph – 1 Kings:13). Moral of this incident for today: emunas chochomim.