1 Samuel 2

This chapter opens with Hannah’s prayer of praise after God grants her request for a son. The chapter then shifts to the sinful behavior of Eli’s sons, contrasting their actions with Samuel’s faithful service. The chapter closes with God's warning to Eli through a prophet, foretelling the downfall of Eli’s family due to their disobedience.

1 Samuel 2:1-2 (NKJV)
1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 "No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God."

Hannah begins her prayer with great joy and gratitude for God’s deliverance, praising Him for lifting her up and giving her strength ("horn"). She recognizes that God’s salvation is the source of her victory over her adversaries, likely referring to Peninnah. Hannah acknowledges God’s uniqueness, emphasizing His holiness and steadfastness, describing Him as a rock, a symbol of stability and refuge.

1 Samuel 2:3-5 (NKJV)
3 "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble."

Hannah warns against pride and arrogance, highlighting that God sees and judges all actions. She contrasts the fate of the proud and the humble, using vivid imagery: the strong are brought low, while the weak are given strength. This reversal extends to various situations—those once prosperous now labor for food, while the hungry are satisfied. Her own situation, once barren, is transformed as a testimony of God’s power to change circumstances.

1 Samuel 2:6-8 (NKJV)
6 "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them."

Hannah continues to exalt God’s sovereign control over life and death, poverty and wealth, humiliation and exaltation. She emphasizes that God is the one who raises the poor and lowly, placing them in positions of honor. The imagery of lifting the beggar to sit with princes reflects God’s power to elevate those whom the world disregards. She concludes by acknowledging that the foundation of the world is God's, underscoring His supreme authority.

1 Samuel 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 "He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."

Hannah affirms that God protects the righteous ("His saints"), but the wicked are left defenseless in the face of His judgment. Human strength is futile against God’s power, and those who oppose Him will be shattered. Her mention of God’s judgment extending to "the ends of the earth" reveals the scope of His authority. Interestingly, Hannah prophetically speaks of a "king" and "anointed," foreshadowing the future monarchy and the Messiah.

1 Samuel 2:11 (NKJV)
11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

After the events surrounding Samuel's birth and dedication, Elkanah returns to his home, but Samuel remains at the temple to serve the Lord under Eli’s guidance. This verse highlights the beginning of Samuel’s lifelong dedication to God’s service, contrasting his faithfulness with the corruption soon revealed in Eli’s household.

1 Samuel 2:12-17 (NKJV)
12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.
13 And the priests' custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged flesh-hook in his hand while the meat was boiling.
14 Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the flesh-hook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw."
16 And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force."
17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, are described as corrupt, lacking any reverence for God. Their abuse of the sacrificial system is highlighted by their forceful and improper practices regarding the offerings, taking more than their due and disregarding God’s laws about burning the fat. Their actions not only defiled the sacrifices but also caused the people to despise the offerings to the Lord, revealing how their wickedness led others astray.

1 Samuel 2:18-21 (NKJV)
18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
19 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.
20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The Lord give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the Lord." Then they would go to their own home.
21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

In contrast to Eli’s sons, Samuel faithfully serves the Lord, even as a child. His linen ephod signifies his role in the temple service. His mother, Hannah, continues to care for him by making him a new robe each year when the family comes to Shiloh. Eli blesses Hannah and Elkanah for their faithfulness, and the Lord blesses Hannah with more children. This passage contrasts Samuel’s growth in godliness with the corruption of Eli’s sons.

1 Samuel 2:22-25 (NKJV)
22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people transgress.
25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.

Eli confronts his sons about their wickedness, particularly their immorality with women who came to the tabernacle. Despite Eli’s rebuke, his sons remain unrepentant, showing their hardened hearts. Eli warns them that sinning against God directly brings more severe consequences than sinning against other men. However, the sons do not change their ways, as God’s judgment is already upon them, foreshadowing their downfall.

1 Samuel 2:26 (NKJV)
26 And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

This verse highlights Samuel’s continued growth in both physical and spiritual maturity. Unlike Eli’s sons, Samuel is gaining favor with God and people, which shows that he is being prepared for a future role of leadership in Israel.

1 Samuel 2:27-29 (NKJV)
27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'"

A prophet comes to Eli, delivering a message from God. He reminds Eli of the privileges given to his priestly family, dating back to their ancestors in Egypt. Despite these blessings, Eli is rebuked for allowing his sons to desecrate the sacrifices and for honoring them above God by not stopping their corruption. God holds Eli responsible for his failure to discipline his sons and for benefiting from their sinful actions.

1 Samuel 2:30-34 (NKJV)
30 Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the Lord says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
32 And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
33 But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them.'"

God pronounces judgment on Eli’s family, declaring that their priestly line will no longer be honored. Although they were once promised a lasting priesthood, their disregard for God has voided that promise. Eli’s descendants will face premature death, and the house of Eli will lose its prominence. God gives Eli a sign: both of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day, symbolizing the beginning of this judgment.

1 Samuel 2:35-36 (NKJV)
35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.
36 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, "Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread."'

God promises to raise up a "faithful priest" who will do His will and serve before His anointed forever, while Eli’s descendants would face judgment, reduced to begging for sustenance. This prophecy had an immediate fulfillment in Zadok, the priest who faithfully served under King David and Solomon, replacing Eli’s line. However, the prophecy also points forward to Christ, the ultimate "faithful priest" who perfectly fulfills God’s will, serving as both the eternal High Priest and the Anointed King. While verse 36 describes the downfall of Eli’s family, leading to their humiliation and poverty, this stands in stark contrast to Christ's priesthood, which is marked by eternal honor, providing spiritual life and sustenance to all who come to Him.