1 Samuel 2:18

_BUT SAMUEL MINISTERED BEFORE THE LORD, BEING A CHILD, GIRDED WITH A LINEN EPHOD._ But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child. This break in the historical notice of Eli's sons was made, not for the purpose of exhibiting a contrast advantageous to the character of Samuel, but of noticing his early services in the outer courts of the tabernacle, and thereby to pave the way for the remarkable prophecy regarding the high priest's family. GIRDED WITH A LINEN EPHOD - a small shoulder-garment or apron, used in the sacred service by the inferior priests and Levites, sometimes also by judges or eminent persons, and hence, allowed to Samuel, who, though not a Levite, was devoted to God from his birth....

11-26 Samuel, being devoted to the Lord in a special manner, was from a child employed about the sanctuary in the services he was capable of. As he did this with a pious disposition of mind, it was called ministering unto the Lord. He received a blessing from the Lord. Those young people who serve God as well as they can, he will enable to improve, that they may serve him better. Eli shunned trouble and exertion. This led him to indulge his children, without using parental authority to restrain and correct them when young. He winked at the abuses in the service of the sanctuary till they became customs, and led to abominations; and his sons, who should have taught those that engaged in the service of the sanctuary what was good, solicited them to wickedness. Their offence was committed even in offering the sacrifices for sins, which typified the atonement of the Saviour! Sins against th...

Verse 1 Samuel 2:18. _GIRDED WITH A LINEN EPHOD_] This the Targum translates אסיר כרדוט דבוץ _asir cardut debuts_, "Girded with a cardit of byssus, or _fine linen_." The word _cardut_ they seem to have borrowed from the Greek χειριδωτος, a _tunic_, having χειριδας, i.e., _sleeves_ that came down to, or covered, the _hands_. This was esteemed an effeminate garment among the Romans. See Buxtorf's _Talmudic Lexicon_....

GIRDED WITH A LINEN EPHOD - This was the usual dress of the priests. It does not appear whether Levites wore an ephod properly. Possibly it was a mark of Samuel’s special dedication to the Lord’s service that he wore one. (See the marginal reference). The ephod was sometimes used as an idolatrous implement Judges 8:27....

EXPOSITION SAMUEL'S MINISTRATIONS AT SHILOH (1 Samuel 2:11-9). 1 SAMUEL 2:11 THE CHILD DID MINISTER. Left by his parents at Shiloh, Samuel ministered unto the Lord; that is, certain duties were allotted him to perform suited to his age; but few at first, when he was but three years old, but increasing in importance as time went on; for the words refer to the whole period of his service, until Eli's death. At first Samuel would be but a scholar, for, as we have mentioned on 1 Samuel 1:21, there were, no doubt, regulations for the training of children devoted to the service of the sanctuary. T

BUT SAMUEL MINISTERED BEFORE THE LORD,.... The ministration of Samuel, though a child, is observed both before and after the account of the ill behaviour and wickedness of Eli's sons; partly to the shame and disgrace of them, and as serving to aggravate their sin, and make it appear the more black and heinous; and partly to his honour and reputation, that he was not corrupted and turned aside from God by their evil practices. The phrase here used is different from that in 1 Samuel 2:11 there he is said to minister before Eli, under his direction and guidance, but here before the Lord; being now engaged in higher services, and which he could perform without the assistance of Eli, as in the presence of God more immediately; it seems to have respect to him when more grown in age, stature, knowledge, and experience, though here related: yet still being "a child"; not got out of his childhood...

3. THE FAILURE OF ELI AND HIS SONS CHAPTER 2:12-36 _ 1. The wicked sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12)_ 2. Samuel before Jehovah and Hannah blessed (1 Samuel 2:18) 3. The empty warning of Eli (1 Samuel 2:22) 4. Judgment announced (1 Samuel 2:27) The corruption of the sons of aged Eli is next exposed. They were sons of Belial; they knew not Jehovah, and yet they ministered in the outward things of the sanctuary. It could result only in the worst corruption. They handled holy things and were wicked in heart and life. It has been well said “a holiness that is but external is the worst unholines

SAMUEL'S MINISTRY; HIS MOTHER'S YEARLY GIFT; HER OTHER CHILDREN. 1 Samuel 2:18. ephod: priestly garment (p. 101, Exodus 25:7; cf. Exodus 25:28). 1 Samuel 2:20. blessed. said. went: used to bless, etc., on each yearly visit....

A LINEN EPHOD. Not the High Priest's, but. simple linen robe of the ordinary priests and Levites and others. Samaritan Pentateuch 1 Samuel 22:18; 2 Samuel 6:14, Compare Exodus 28:42.Leviticus 6:10....

Samuel's ministry in the tabernacle 18. _Samuel ministered_ The writer dwells upon the contrast between Samuel and the sons of Eli. We see the child attending upon Eli in the sanctuary, growing before the Lord, in favour both with the Lord and with men, chosen to be God's messenger to Eli, and finally re-establishing the broken intercourse between Jehovah and His people. On the other hand we see Hophni and Phinehas abusing their sacred office, sinking from rapacity and profanity to open profligacy, unchecked by rebuke or warning, and at last perishing miserably by the hands of the Philistines. _a linen ephod_ The ephod was a garment covering the shoulders, (Lat. superhumerale), and secured round the waist by a girdle. It was the distinctive dress of priests (1 Samuel 2:28, ch. 1 Samuel