1 Samuel 2 Bible Commentary

2:1 And Hannah ^a prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine ^b horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is ^c enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

(a) After she had obtained a son by prayer she gave thanks.
(b) I have recovered strength and glory by the benefit of the Lord.
(c) I can answer them that criticize my barrenness.

2:3 Talk ^d no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

(d) In that you condemn my barrenness, you show your pride against God.

2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for ^e bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

(e) They sell their labours for necessary food.

2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among ^f princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the ^g LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

(f) He prefers to honour, and does according to his own will, though man's judgment is contrary.
(g) Therefore he may dispose all things according to his will.

2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his ^h king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

(h) She grounded her prayer on Jesus Christ who was to come.

2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the ⁱ LORD before Eli the priest.

(i) In all that Eli commanded him.

2:12 Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they ^k knew not the LORD.

(k) That is, they neglected his ordinance.

2:14 And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; ^l all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

(l) Transgressing the order appointed in the Law, (Leviticus 7:31), for their bellies sake.

2:15 Also before they burnt the ^m 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 sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

(m) Which was commanded first to have been offered to God.

2:16 And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul ⁿ desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou shalt give [it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force.

(n) Not passing for their own profit, so that God might be served rightly.

2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men ^o abhorred the offering of the LORD.

(o) Seeing the horrible abuse of it.

2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that ^p assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

(p) Which was (as the Hebrews write) after their travail, when they came to be purified, read (Exodus 38:8; Leviticus 12:6).

2:24 Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to ^q transgress.

(q) Because they contemn their duty to God, (1 Samuel 2:17).

2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD ^r would slay them.

(r) So that to obey good admonition is God's mercy, and to disobey them is his just judgment for sin.

2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy ^s father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

(s) That is, Aaron.

2:29 Wherefore ^t kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

(t) Why have you contemned my sacrifices, and as it were trod them under foot?

2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed [that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, ^u Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

(u) God's promises are only effective to those he gives faith to fear and obey him.

2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine ^x arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

(x) Thy power and authority.

2:32 And thou ^y shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all [the wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

(y) Your posterity will see the glory of the chief priest given to another, whom they will envy, (1 Kings 2:27).

2:35 And I will raise me up a ^z faithful priest, [that] shall do according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

(z) Meaning Zadok, who succeeded Abiathar, and was the figure of Christ.

2:36 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in thine house shall come [and] ^a crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

(a) That is, will be inferior to him.