But Samuel ministered before the Lord
The ministration of Samuel, though a child, is observed both
before and after the account of the ill behaviour and wickedness
of Eli's sons; partly to the shame and disgrace of them, and as
serving to aggravate their sin, and make it appear the more black
and heinous; and partly to his honour and reputation, that he was
not corrupted and turned aside from God by their evil practices.
The phrase here used is different from that in ( 1 Samuel
2:11 ) there he is said to minister before Eli, under his
direction and guidance, but here before the Lord; being now
engaged in higher services, and which he could perform without
the assistance of Eli, as in the presence of God more
immediately; it seems to have respect to him when more grown in
age, stature, knowledge, and experience, though here related: yet
still being "a child"; not got out of his childhood, or arrived
to manhood:
girded with a linen ephod;
such as priests used to wear, but not Levites in common, nor
extraordinary persons on extraordinary occasions, see ( 1 Samuel
22:18 ) ( 2 Samuel
6:14 ) . This seems to be a peculiar favour, and a special
honour which Eli granted to Samuel when so very young, on account
of the grace of God bestowed on him in a wonderful manner; and
because brought up in the tabernacle as a holy person, and a
Nazarite; and because his birth was foretold, and he asked of
God, as his name signified, as Procopius Gazaeus observes.