1 Samuel 2:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.

NIV: Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the LORD under Eli the priest.

NASB: Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy continued to attend to the service of the Lord before Eli the priest.

CSB: Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.

NLT: Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.

KJV: And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

NKJV: Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

Hannah officially fulfilled her vow by giving Samuel over to the Lord and into the care of Eli the priest. With that done, the family worshiped (1 Samuel 1:11, 24–28). Part of that worship included Hannah's prayer of praise to the Lord for His power over all human circumstances (1 Samuel 2:1–10). Then Elkanah, Hannah's husband, went back home to Ramah. Hannah probably went with him. Samuel, likely only three or four years old, stayed behind at the tabernacle in Shiloh, his new home. Even as a boy, Samuel apparently began his work of ministering to the Lord. He served in the tabernacle under the authority and supervision of Eli the priest.

First Samuel 2:1–11 contains Hannah's poetic prayer of praise to the Lord in response to His gift of a son, Samuel. She offers the prayer after delivering Samuel into Eli's care at the sanctuary in keeping with her vow to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:11, 24–28). The main emphasis of the prayer is that God is holy and sovereign. He can reverse life situations, bringing the rich and powerful down and lifting the poor, hungry, and barren. The one who controls life and death guards those faithful to Him.

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 4/29/2024 4:06:46 PM