1 Samuele 1

1 OR v’era un uomo di Ramataim-Somfi, del monte di Efraim, il cui nome era Elcana, figliuolo di Ieroham, figliuolo di Elihu, figliuolo di Tohu, figliuolo di Suf, Efrateo.

2 Ed esso avea due mogli: il nome dell’una era Anna, e il nome dell’altra Peninna; e Peninna avea figliuoli, ma Anna non ne avea.

3 Or quell’uomo saliva dalla sua città di anno in anno, per adorare, e per sacrificare al Signore degli eserciti, in Silo; ove erano i due figliuoli di Eli, Hofni e Finees, sacerdoti del Signore.

4 Ed avvenne un giorno che Elcana, avendo sacrificato, diede delle porzioni a Peninna, sua moglie, ed a tutti i figliuoli e figliuole di essa;

5 ma ad Anna ne diede una doppia; perciocchè egli amava Anna, benchè il Signore le avesse serrata la matrice.

6 E la sua avversaria non restava di provocarla a cruccio, per farla turbare; perciocchè il Signore le avea serrata la matrice.

7 Elcana adunque, facendo così ogni anno, una volta, da che Anna fu salita alla Casa del Signore, quell’altra la provocò a sdegno a questo modo; onde ella piangeva, e non mangiava.

8 Ed Elcana, suo marito, le disse: Anna, perchè piangi, e perchè non mangi, e perchè stai di mal’animo? non ti valgo io meglio che dieci figliuoli?

9 Ed Anna, dopo che si fu mangiato, e bevuto in Silo, si levò or il Sacerdote Eli sedeva sopra la seggia, presso ad uno degli stipiti della porta del Tempio del Signore;

10 ed essendo in amaritudine d’animo, pregò il Signore, e piangea dirottamente.

11 Poi votò un voto, dicendo: O Signore degli eserciti, se pur tu riguardi all’afflizione della tua servente, e ti ricordi di me, e non dimentichi la tua servente, e doni alla tua servente progenie di figliuol maschio, io lo donerò al Signore, per tutto il tempo della sua vita; e rasoio non gli salirà giammai in sul capo.

12 Ora, mentre ella moltiplicava in orazioni davanti al Signore, Eli pose mente alla bocca di essa.

13 E Anna parlava entro a sè stessa, e le si movevano sol le labbra, e non si udiva la sua voce; onde Eli reputò che fosse ebbra;

14 e le disse: Infino a quando farai l’ebbra? cacciati il tuo vino d’addosso.

15 Ma Anna rispose, e disse: No, signor mio; io sono una donna tribolata nello spirito, e non ho bevuto nè vino, nè cervogia; anzi spando l’anima mia davanti al Signore.

16 Non agguagliar la tua servente alle ree femmine; perciocchè per la gravezza del mio lamento, e del mio rammarico, io ho parlato infino ad ora.

17 Ed Eli rispose, e disse: Vattene in pace; l’Iddio d’Israele ti conceda la richiesta che tu gli hai fatta.

18 Ed ella gli disse: Trovi la tua servente grazia appo te. Poi quella donna se ne andò al suo cammino, e mangiò; e la sua faccia non fu più quale era prima.

19 Poi Elcana, e i suoi, si levarono la mattina, e adorarono davanti al Signore; e se ne ritornarono, e vennero in casa loro, in Rama. Ed Elcana conobbe Anna sua moglie, e il Signore si ricordò di lei.

20 E al termine del tempo, dopo che Anna ebbe conceputo, ella partorì un figliuolo, e gli pose nome Samuele; perciocchè disse ella, io l’ho chiesto al Signore.

21 E quell’uomo Elcana salì con tutta la sua famiglia, per sacrificare al Signore il sacrificio annuale, e il suo voto.

22 Ma Anna non vi salì; perciocchè disse al suo marito: Io non vi salirò, finchè il fanciullo non sia spoppato; allora io lo condurrò, acciocchè sia presentato davanti al Signore, e che dimori quivi in perpetuo.

23 Ed Elcana, suo marito, le disse: Fa’ quello che ti par meglio; rimantene finchè tu l’abbi spoppato; adempia pure il Signore la sua parola. Così quella donna se ne rimase, e allattò il suo figliuolo, finchè l’ebbe spoppato.

24 E, quando l’ebbe spoppato, ella lo menò seco, con tre giovenchi, e un efa di farina, e un barile di vino; e lo menò nella Casa del Signore, in Silo; e il fanciullo era ancora molto piccolo.

25 Ed Elcana ed Anna scannarono un giovenco, e menarono il fanciullo ad Eli.

26 Ed Anna gli disse: Ahi! signor mio; come l’anima tua vive, signor mio, io son quella donna che stava qui appresso di te, per fare orazione al Signore.

27 Io pregai per aver questo fanciullo; e il Signore mi ha conceduta la richiesta che io gli feci.

28 Onde io altresì l’ho prestato al Signore; egli sarà prestato al Signore tutti i giorni ch’egli sarà in vita. Ed essi adorarono quivi il Signore.

1 Samuele 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

In this book we have an account of Eli, and the wickedness of his sons; also of Samuel, his character and actions. Then of the advancement of Saul to be the king of Israel, and his ill behaviour, until his death made way for David's succession to the throne, who was an eminent type of Christ. David's patience, modesty, constancy, persecution by open enemies and feigned friends, are a pattern and example to the church, and to every member of it. Many things in this book encourage the faith, hope, and patience of the suffering believer. It contains also many useful cautions and awful warnings.

Elkanah and his family. (1-8) Hannah's prayer. (9-18) Samuel, Hannah presents him to the Lord. (19-28)

Verses 1-8 Elkanah kept up his attendance at God's altar, notwithstanding the unhappy differences in his family. If the devotions of a family prevail not to put an end to its divisions, yet let not the divisions put a stop to the devotions. To abate our just love to any relation for the sake of any infirmity which they cannot help, and which is their affliction, is to make God's providence quarrel with his precept, and very unkindly to add affliction to the afflicted. It is evidence of a base disposition, to delight in grieving those who are of a sorrowful spirit, and in putting those out of humour who are apt to fret and be uneasy. We ought to bear one another's burdens, not add to them. Hannah could not bear the provocation. Those who are of a fretful spirit, and are apt to lay provocations too much to heart, are enemies to themselves, and strip themselves of many comforts both of life and godliness. We ought to notice comforts, to keep us from grieving for crosses. We should look at that which is for us, as well as what is against us.

Verses 9-18 Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and desire. She spoke softly, none could hear her. Hereby she testified her belief of God's knowledge of the heart and its desires. Eli was high priest, and judge in Israel. It ill becomes us to be rash and hasty in censures of others, and to think people guilty of bad things while the matter is doubtful and unproved. Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips, that we do not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear herself, and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so. None will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege of going to the mercy-seat of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus.

Verses 19-28 Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, yet they would not move till they had worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey. When men are in such haste to set out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah, though she felt a warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from public ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may take comfort from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in a right spirit, God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gifts to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little children should be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should teach them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as they can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

\\OTHERWISE CALLED\\ \\THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS\\

This book, in the Hebrew copies, is commonly called Samuel, or the Book of Samuel; in the Syriac version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet; and in the Arabic version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet, which is the First Book of the Kings; and the Septuagint version, the Book of the Kingdom: it has the name of Samuel, because it contains an history of his life and times; and the Jews say {a} it was written by him; and as it may well enough be thought to be, to the end of the twenty fourth chapter; and the rest might be written by Nathan and Gad, as may he gathered from 1Ch 29:29 as also the following book that bears his name; and both may be called the Books of Kings, because they give an account of the rise of the kings in Israel, and of the two first of them; though some think they were written by Jeremiah, as Abarbinel; and others ascribe them to Ezra: however, there is no doubt to be made of it that this book was written by divine inspiration, when we consider the series of its history, its connection and harmony with other parts of Scripture; the several things borrowed from it, or alluded to in the book of Psalms, particularly what is observed in Ps 113:7,8, seems to be taken out of 1Sa 2:8, and the sanction which the Lord gives to it, by referring to a fact in it, whereby he stopped the mouths of the Scribes and Pharisees cavilling at his disciples, Mt 12:3,4, compared with 1Sa 21:3-6, yea, even, as Huetius {b} observes, some Heathen writers have by their testimonies confirmed some passages in these books, which they seem to have been acquainted with, as Nicolaus of Damascus {c}, and Eupolemus {d}; it contains an history of the government of Eli, and of the birth of Samuel, and his education under him; of the succession of Samuel in it, and the resignation of it to Saul, when he was chosen king; of his administration of his office, and of things done in the time of it, both before and after his rejection, and of the persecution of David by Saul, and is concluded with his death.

{a} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 14. 2. {b} Demonstrat. Evangel. Prop. 4. p. 199. {c} Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 7. c. 5. sect. 2. {d} Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30.

\\INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 1\\

This chapter gives an account of the parents of Samuel, of the trouble his mother met with from her rival, and comfort from her husband, 1Sa 1:1-8, of her prayer to God for a son, and of her vow to him, should one be given her, 1Sa 1:9-11 of the notice Eli took of her, and of his censure on her, which he afterwards retracted, and comforted her, 1Sa 1:12-18 of her conception and the birth of her son, the nursing and weaning of him, 1Sa 1:19-23 and of the presentation of him to the Lord, with a sacrifice, 1Sa 1:24-28.