1 Samuel 2:5-15

5 Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread; Those who were hungry have ceased [to hunger]: Yes, the barren has borne seven; She who has many children languishes.

6 The LORD kills, and makes alive: He brings down to She'ol, and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: He brings low, he also lifts up.

8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, Inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the eretz are the LORD's, He has set the world on them.

9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.

10 Those who strive with the LORD shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in the sky: The LORD will judge the ends of the eretz; He will give strength to his king, Exalt the horn of his anointed.

11 Elkana went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to the LORD before `Eli the Kohen.

12 Now the sons of `Eli were base men; they didn't know the LORD.

13 The custom of the Kohanim with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the Kohen's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;

14 and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the Kohen took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Yisra'elites who came there.

15 Yes, before they burnt the fat, the Kohen's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the Kohen; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.

1 Samuel 2:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 2

In this chapter the song of Hannah is recorded, 1Sa 2:1-10, and an account is given of the return of Elkanah and Hannah to their own home, and of the care she took yearly to provide a coat for Samuel, and of her being blessed with many other children, and of the growth and ministry of Samuel before the Lord, 1Sa 2:11,18-21,26, and of the wickedness of the sons of Eli, 1Sa 2:12-17, and of Eli's too gentle treatment of them when he reproved them for it, 1Sa 2:22-25 and of a sharp message sent him from the Lord on that account, threatening destruction to his house, of which the death of his two sons would be a sign, 1Sa 2:27-36.