1 Samuel 2:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

NIV: Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.

NASB: And his mother would make for him a little robe and bring it up to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

CSB: Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.

NLT: Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice.

KJV: Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

NKJV: Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

This is a poignant verse. Hannah made a vow to the Lord that if He allowed her to give birth, she would give that son back to God for service in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:11). She followed through on her promise, handing Samuel over to the Lord through the priest, Eli. He went to live and serve in the tabernacle once he grew out of infancy and no longer needed to be with his mother (1 Samuel 1:24–28).

Hannah, though, continued to be Samuel's mother and to feel responsible for him. She may have visited more often, but the entire family came to Shiloh once a year. This was for an annual peace offering and family feast, as described in the previous chapter (1 Samuel 1:1–20).

Every year, as Samuel grew, Hannah would make and bring to him a new robe. This may have been a special priestly-style robe for him to wear while serving the sanctuary. Samuel continued to be seen in a long robe throughout his life (1 Samuel 15:27) and even after he had died (1 Samuel 28:14).

First Samuel 2:12–21 contrasts Eli's sons with Hannah's son Samuel. Eli's sons are worthless men who don't know the Lord. They abuse their power as priests to take the best cuts of animals offered for themselves, treating the sacrifice to the Lord with contempt. Samuel, just a boy, ministers to the Lord at the sanctuary. Hannah brings him a new robe each year and Eli blesses her with a prayer for more children. She has three more sons and two daughters with her husband Elkanah. Samuel grows up in God's presence at the sanctuary.

After delivering Samuel to the Lord, Hannah offers a poetic prayer of praise. The sons of Eli the priest are evil, depraved men who abuse their power as priests. They coerce worshippers to give them additional meat. They sleep with women who serve at the sanctuary. In contrast, Samuel grows in favor with God and others as he grows up physically. Hannah and Elkanah continue to go to Shiloh yearly; they also have more children. Eli rebukes his sons, but they don't repent. The Lord tells Eli that all his descendants will die young and his two rebellious sons will die on the same day. The Lord will raise up a faithful priest to do His will.

The prior chapter explained how Hannah cried out to God for a son, and that her request was granted. First Samuel 2 begins with Hannah's praise to the Lord in response. Samuel remains in Shiloh where he ministers and matures. By contrast, Eli's sons are wicked and abuse their power as priests. A prophet reveals that God will cause all Eli's descendants to die young and his two sons to die on the same day. The Lord will raise up a faithful priest from another part of the family line. This provides background for Samuel's call from God in chapter 3.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 12/4/2024 3:28:59 AM