18 Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord , as a boy wearing a linen ephod . 19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice . 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say , "May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated e to the Lord ." And they went to their own home . 21 The Lord visited Hannah ; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters . And the boy Samuel grew before the Lord . 22 Now Eli was very old ; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel , and how e they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting . 23 He said to them, "Why do you do such things , the evil things that I hear from all these people ? 24 "No , my sons ; for the report is not good which I hear the Lord'S people circulating . 25 "If one man sins against another , God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord , who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father , for the Lord desired to put them to death . 26 Now the boy Samuel was growing e in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:18-26
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:11-26
(Read 1 Samuel 2:11-26)
Samuel, being devoted to the Lord in a special manner, was from a child employed about the sanctuary in the services he was capable of. As he did this with a pious disposition of mind, it was called ministering unto the Lord. He received a blessing from the Lord. Those young people who serve God as well as they can, he will enable to improve, that they may serve him better. Eli shunned trouble and exertion. This led him to indulge his children, without using parental authority to restrain and correct them when young. He winked at the abuses in the service of the sanctuary till they became customs, and led to abominations; and his sons, who should have taught those that engaged in the service of the sanctuary what was good, solicited them to wickedness. Their offence was committed even in offering the sacrifices for sins, which typified the atonement of the Saviour! Sins against the remedy, the atonement itself, are most dangerous, they tread under foot the blood of the covenant. Eli's reproof was far too mild and gentle. In general, none are more abandoned than the degenerate children of godly persons, when they break through restraints.