For then should you go after vain things. —The passage is more forcible without the “for” and the words in italics supplied in the…

How gently the old prophet speaks! What a change from the pealing thunder to this gracious voice! It seems like the clear shining after rain.

And turn you not aside
From his worship: for then; if they turned aside from that:

should you go …

At Samuel's word, God sent thunder and rain at a time of year when, in that country, such an occurrence was not usually seen. This was to convince …