1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2:1-2

Hannah praised God for His great provision and answer to prayer. Sometimes, we are quick to run to the Lord with our problems, drop them before Him, and get back about the business of life. Hannah came before God rejoicing. Even three years later, she had not forgotten how God had blessed her. She is overwhelmed with joy. Some believe this prayer was a model for Mary’s song.

Hannah’s salvation was a poetic expression for her son. Interestingly enough, he would bring salvation to Israel and deliver them from the time of judges. To “smile at my enemies” was the idea that even those who war against her could not spoil her joy. Her joy was from the Lord, hidden in Him.

Hannah summarized God’s authority over her life. All around her, others were chasing other gods, false gods of other nations. Men trusted in other things and sacrificed to demons. Hannah found salvation, stability, joy, and comfort in knowing The Living God who reigns supreme over all.

She summarized these by calling the Lord her rock. He was her anchor, hiding place, fortress from the enemy. He blessed, provided, guarded, and guided her.

1 Samuel 2:3-5

In verse three, she shifts to admonishing those who would brag or foolishly exalt themselves. The Lord sees, hears, and knows all. He is the judge and is the standard of righteousness. Perhaps Hannah had Peninnah's harsh words in mind. God can quickly reverse any situation. Those who appear destined for victory can be stripped of their weapons. The humbled and broken are suddenly girded with strength.

Those who had plenty of food one day hired themselves out to eat the next. Those who had nothing and were hungry suddenly had food. The once barren woman can have a family of seven by the word of the Lord. Likewise, a woman with many children can find herself without that blessing.

God can bring low or exalt a warrior. He can make a womb barren or fruitful.

1 Samuel 2:6-11

The Lord will bring the worst on those who oppose Him. He will bestow protection, strength, and exaltation upon His saints. The contrasts are profound and sovereign:

The Lord can:

Make alive or kill.
Bring up or deliver to the grave
Provide riches or make a man poor.
Lift or bring low.

The ultimate picture of God’s sovereignty is His ability to raise the least to make them the greatest! No one can thwart His will. His adversaries will be broken and judged.

The last half of verse 10 is provocative. Because of its similarities to Mary’s song, the first-century church saw the references to “His King” and “His Anointed” as prophetic references to Jesus. They then looked at the poem as prophetic, looking for the One who would come.

Hannah’s prayer is profound and gives insight into her beliefs.

She saw God as solid as a rock.
He’s the one who knows what we do (even when no one else sees).
He is sovereign over all the affairs of people.
He is the supreme judge who will administer perfect justice.

Samuel stayed with Eli and began his training as a priest. It was probably no secret to the people that there were problems at the Tabernacle. Eli's sons were corrupt and doing things that were forbidden by the Lord. Leaving their son there with Eli showed their faith in God.

This would be similar to dropping your child off at school for the first time. They seem so small and frail, while the school is so large. It's overwhelming and full of emotion. This might be similar to what Hannah felt, but worse. Hannah was leaving her son in the hands of the priests and going home. This had to be very difficult for her.

Introduction to section

Hannah and Elkanah step out of the spotlight and Samuel is lifted to prominence in the shadow of Eli and his two sons. The Lord speaks to Samuel. At the same time, the sons of Eli, who are to be the representatives of the Lord, represent him poorly. Their wickedness would be removed and replaced by the pious prophet, priest, and judge, Samuel.

Hannah alluded to the arrogant, mighty, wicked, and those who contend with God. As we begin this section, we see manifest evidence of those people. They weren’t found among the Philistines of the Canaanites but at the temple.

1 Samuel 2:12-17

The sons of Eli were a sign of the times when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. The writer tells us they were corrupt. This word is “Belial,” meaning worthless, but is also the name of a false god, is also used to refer to Satan, and is ultimately a reference to wickedness and evil. This is the same word Hannah used when Eli accused her of being drunk. She pled for him not to think of her as Belial.

The scripture provides samples of the kind of things these two sons did. Offerings were brought before the Lord, and there was a prescribed way for them to be offered. The fat was considered the best portion and was thus given to the Lord (Lev 3:3-5). The best was always to be given to God. Then, the priest received a portion (breast & thigh), and the person who brought the sacrifice received a portion. These men had created their own selfish way of doing what God had already prescribed. Thus, culture had invaded the priesthood, and they were doing what was right in their own eyes. They took whatever portion they wanted, but, more importantly, they specifically took the Lord's portion. Why did these boys want raw meat? We don't really know, but maybe to cook it when and how they saw fit, or possibly to sell it to others.

They took beyond their allotment.
They took the Lord’s portion.
They took what they wanted by the threat of violence.

This is an example of their wickedness.

This is a good place to consider whether Godly parents have Godly children.

Elkanah is presented as a pious man of God. Hannah pled with God in her grief. God answered, and she had a Godly child.
Eli is presented as a priest, a supposed man of God. His sons showed contempt for God.

1 Samuel 2:18-21

Samuel Ministered (v.18) and grew (v. 21) before the Lord.

In contrast to what Eli's boys were doing, Samuel was ministering before the Lord. This means he was learning to be a priest (evidenced by his garment). He was growing in the Lord and his calling, while Hophni and Phineas were growing in wickedness. Samuel learned of the sacred and how to serve in obedience and reverence, while the sons acted with no regard to the sacred.

Samuel's plain linen Ephod (a vest-like garment) tells us he was a priest in training. The linen ephod of an apprentice priest would later have gold thread woven in it and become the gesture of a full priest.

Hannah remained in contact with Samuel through an annual visit. As he grew, she provided him with a new ephod. Eli blessed Elkanah and Hannah, presumably as a response to Samuel’s commitment to the Lord. His blessing specifically requested additional children.

God visited Hannah. In His providence, He gave her five more children, three sons and two daughters.

1 Samuel 2:22-26

Samuel grew in Stature and Favor (v. 26) before the Lord and Men

We can see God’s hand in the divergent paths of Samuel’s life as He works to bring about a change from Eli and his sons.

Eli thought more of his sons than he did the Lord. He didn’t fear the Lord but feared his sons and didn’t correct them or deal with their wickedness. This made Eli complicit in their sin. He warned them but didn’t remove them from their roles.

Eli told his sons that they made the Lord’s people transgress. How did they do this?

Their offering was not offered correctly.
They weren’t allowed to eat of the offering as prescribed.
Under physical threat, they may have chosen to remain home.

Notice, Eli had to hear about his sons from others. You get the idea he was more worried about what people thought than their failures before the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:27-36

God sent an unnamed prophet to Eli to pronounce judgment on his house. The prophet reminded Eli that the Lord had defined his role as a priest long ago and made provision for them. God asked through the prophet why he scorned (kicked) or had a low view of the sacrifice.

The prophet spoke the Lord’s punishment. The previous promise of Eli and his father’s house was that they would always be serving before the Lord. That promise was being annulled. Those who honor the Lord will be honored. Those who despise the Lord would be lightly esteemed. This is a shift of the priesthood from one line of the Levites to another (Aaron to Kohath?)

Eli’s strength and authority would be removed (cut off your arm).
The family line would be cut off. They would be stripped of a heritage before the Lord.
Eli would see the enemy in the Lord’s house.
Any of his family that were not cut off immediately would live to bring grief in his sight and heart. Other descendants would later die (22:18-19).
Eli’s sons would be killed in their youth. The Lord offered Eli a sign through this prophet. It would come upon the two sons, who would both die on the same day. The Lord would then raise up a faithful priest to replace them. This would shift the line of priests who would minister before the Lord’s king.

The line of Kohath would be reduced to servants.

Nothing is more provoking to God than the profanation of sacred things and men serving their lusts with the offerings of the Lord. Those who allow and countenance their children in an evil way by not using their authority to restrain and punish them, involve themselves in their guilt and may be expected to be cast off from God’s service.

Brooks, K. (2009).

SBCOT (p. 57). Logos Bible Software.

Eli was very old, which means his sons weren't very young. We have to ask where Eli's correction of his sons was for all those years. As the priest ministering before the Lord, he should have put a stop to this long ago. We get a glimpse of how far things had fallen during the days of the judges. These men were even sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Verse 25 says they didn’t listen to Eli’s rebuke because it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. I believe this shows that there is a line you can’t cross. When God has had enough, there doesn’t seem to be any turning back. We are not to tempt the Lord our God.

See 1 Kings 2:26-27 for the fulfillment of this prophecy. Zadok was a priest under David & Solomon; the faithful priest in immediate view is Samuel, and the ultimate faithful priest is Jesus.

1 Samuel