1 Samuel 2 Study Notes

2:19 The little robe that Hannah made for Samuel may be linked with the one prescribed for the priests (Ex 28:31; Lv 8:7). Samuel was gone from Hannah’s home but not from her heart.

2:20 The one she has given is literally “request she requested” or “grant she granted” (cp. 1:28), and it reinforces the special nature of Samuel’s birth and dedication.

2:21 The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need is literally “Yahweh visited Hannah.” The same Hebrew expression occurs in reference to Abraham’s wife Sarah when she conceived Isaac, another child of promise (Gn 21:1). Hannah is abundantly blessed, but her three sons and two daughters are nonetheless contrasted with the boy Samuel, who grew up in the presence of the Lord.

2:22 The words very old probably hint at Eli’s lack of strength to stop his sons from their sins, which the text now mentions also included sexual immorality. On the women at the sanctuary, see Ex 38:8.

2:23-25 In a dispute between two men, God might intercede, but if someone’s sin was directly against the Lord, no intercession was possible—only condemnation. The words since the Lord intended to kill them reveal that much like Pharaoh in Moses’s day (Ex 4:21; 5:2; 7:13), the persistent unbelief of Hophni and Phinehas led to God’s giving them over to judgment.

2:26 The phrase grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people is strikingly similar to the description of Jesus as a child (Lk 2:52).

2:27 Forefather’s family . . . in Egypt recalls God’s choice of Aaron (Ex 4:14-16).

2:28 The responsibilities listed were strictly limited to the priests, whom the law of Moses designated as the sons of Aaron (Ex 28:1-5; Lv 8-9).

2:29 Eli is held responsible for his sons’ actions. Despise is literally “kick at.” You have honored your sons more than me rebukes Eli on the basis of the first commandment and the command to love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul, and strength.

2:30 With the words no longer, God indicated that he had not set aside his promise to Aaron’s line. The words those who honor me I will honor reveal that God had judged Eli’s house unfit to serve as priests among Aaron’s sons.

2:31-32 God in his grace did not destroy Eli’s house, but drastically reduced its strength.

2:33 As Ronald Youngblood points out, “The only member of Eli’s line to ‘be spared’ (v. 33) was Abiathar, and in any case he was removed from the priesthood (1Kg 2:26-27).”

2:34 As the chief sinners, Hophni and Phinehas would be the first to die—and would do so on the same day.

2:35 Some suggest Samuel is intended by the phrase a faithful priest, but Samuel did not have a lasting dynasty (8:1-5). The term may denote the priestly line of Zadok, who eventually succeeded Eli’s line (1Kg 2:27), or any and all priests who followed the Lord faithfully. My anointed one designates the line of David, for whom God also built a lasting dynasty (2Sm 7:11-16).

2:36 This verse suggests that Eli’s descendants would not even partake of the sacrificial portions reserved for the priests (Lv 2:3; 5:13; 7:7-10).