1 Samuel2

Hannah offers a profound prayer of thanksgiving, exalting God's power to reverse fortunes and judge the earth. Concurrently, Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, abuse their priestly duties, causing people to despise the Lord's offerings. A man of God then prophesies severe judgment upon Eli's house for their iniquity, declaring their priestly line will be cut off, while Samuel continues to grow in favor with God and men.

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Hannah's Song of Praise and Reversal

And Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exulteth in Jehovah; My horn is exalted in Jehovah; My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as Jehovah; For there is none besides thee, Neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken; And they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceasedto hunger: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.

Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up.

Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, And inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah’s, And he hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.

They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in heaven: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; And he will give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.

Samuel's Ministry Contrasted with Eli's Sons

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.

Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.

And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;

and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

Yea, before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of thee, but raw.

And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah; for the men despised the offering of Jehovah.

But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Jehovah give thee seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Jehovah. And they went unto their own home.

And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.

Eli's Failed Rebuke and Samuel's Growth

Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting.

And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.

Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah’s people to transgress.

If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.

And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men.

Prophecy of Judgment Against Eli's House

And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?

and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up unto mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.

And thou shalt behold the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.

And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy heart; and all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.

And this shall be the sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.

And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 2

Verse 1

The song is a powerful hymn of thanksgiving, immediately establishing major theological themes for the book. 'Mine horn is exalted' is a metaphor for strength, dignity, and victory.

Verse 2

This declaration emphasizes YHWH's absolute uniqueness and holiness (Qadosh). 'Rock' is a common biblical metaphor for God's steadfastness, reliability, and protection.

Verse 3

This addresses the proud antagonist (likely Peninnah, 1:6) but expands into a universal condemnation of human arrogance. God's omniscience ensures that all human actions are justly weighed.

Verse 4

This verse introduces the central theme of reversal: God overturns human power structures, humbling the mighty and strengthening the weak.

Verse 5

The ultimate reversal is seen in fertility: the barren woman (Hannah) is blessed, while the previously fertile woman (the proud or Peninnah) is desolate. 'Seven' often symbolizes fullness or perfection.

Verse 6

These verses emphasize God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, reinforcing the theme that all human existence depends entirely on divine will.

Verse 7

God's sovereignty extends to material status, demonstrating that human wealth and poverty are ultimately subject to divine ordering.

Verse 10

This verse moves beyond Hannah's personal situation to cosmic judgment. The reference to 'his king' and 'his anointed' (Hebrew: *mashiah*) is the first explicit use of this messianic term in Scripture, anticipating the monarchy.

Verse 11

The narrative shifts back to the action, contrasting the spiritual purity of Samuel’s service with the immediate corruption of the priesthood.

Verse 12

Sons of Belial means 'worthless ones' or 'scoundrels.' Their core failure was theological: 'they knew not the LORD,' indicating a fundamental lack of respect for God's covenant and authority.

Verse 13

The priests were already entitled to a portion of the sacrifice (Lev. 7:34). However, Hophni and Phinehas violated custom by demanding their portion before the sacrifice was properly offered.

Verse 15

According to Levitical law, the fat was to be burned first as God’s portion. By demanding raw flesh before this step, the priests treated the divine portion with contempt.

Verse 17

Their sin was particularly egregious because it caused the common people to 'abhor the offering,' thus undermining the entire system of worship and covenant relationship.

Verse 18

Samuel’s simple, faithful ministry is highlighted, standing in sharp contrast to the corruption at Shiloh. The linen ephod signifies his legitimate, albeit youthful, service in the Tabernacle.

Verse 21

This verse confirms the reversal promised in Hannah's song (V. 5). Samuel's continued growth 'before the LORD' emphasizes his spiritual path, unlike Eli's sons.

Verse 22

In addition to sacrilege, Eli's sons committed severe sexual immorality, defiling the Tabernacle entrance. This abuse of their holy office compounded their wickedness.

Verse 25

Eli’s question confirms the gravity of their sin: offenses against God cannot be easily reconciled by human mediation. The note that 'the LORD would slay them' indicates that divine judgment was already fixed due to their hardened hearts and refusal to repent.

Verse 26

This verse provides a final, positive contrast to the fate of Eli's sons (V. 25). Samuel’s spiritual and social favor marks him as God’s chosen successor.

Verse 27

The 'man of God' is an unnamed prophet, signifying that the judgment comes directly from YHWH, bypassing the corrupt priesthood and setting the stage for a new order.

Verse 29

God accuses Eli of 'honouring thy sons above me.' Eli’s passive failure to restrain his sons or remove them from office was a priestly dereliction, prioritizing family welfare over God's honor.

Verse 30

This introduces the principle of conditional covenant: the previous promise of eternal priesthood (to Aaron’s line) is revoked because Eli’s house despised God. Obedience outweighs lineage.

Verse 31

To 'cut off thine arm' is a metaphor for stripping away strength, authority, and prosperity. This judgment ensures the end of Eli's political and religious influence.

Verse 32

The 'enemy in my habitation' likely refers to the Philistine capture of the Ark and the resulting destruction of Shiloh, which would occur during Eli’s lifetime (1 Samuel 4).

Verse 34

This provides a specific, immediate sign validating the prophecy: the simultaneous death of Hophni and Phinehas, which is fulfilled in the battle against the Philistines (4:11).

Verse 35

This promise looks forward to a 'faithful priest'—a reference generally understood to be fulfilled by Zadok (who replaced Abiathar, Eli's descendant, under Solomon), and ultimately pointing toward Christ’s perfect priesthood.

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1 Samuel2

Hannah's Song of Praise and Reversal

Samuel's Ministry Contrasted with Eli's Sons

Eli's Failed Rebuke and Samuel's Growth

Prophecy of Judgment Against Eli's House

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