1 Samuel 2:21

_AND THE LORD VISITED HANNAH, SO THAT SHE CONCEIVED, AND BARE THREE SONS AND TWO DAUGHTERS. AND THE CHILD SAMUEL GREW BEFORE THE LORD._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

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...

See the marginal references. The words “before the” Lord have special reference to his residence at the tabernacle....

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

AND THE LORD VISITED HANNAH,.... In a way of mercy, approving and confirming the blessing of Eli; or rather granting the blessing he prayed for, by giving her power to conceive, bear, and bring forth children, as the following words explain it: SO THAT SHE CONCEIVED AND BARE THREE SONS AND TWO DAUGHTERS; whereby the prophecy of Hannah was fulfilled, 1 Samuel 2:5, and was no doubt matter of great joy to her, though of these children we nowhere else read, nor even of their names. Josephus s says, Elkanah had other sons by Hannah, and three daughters; which agrees not with the text: AND THE CHILD SAMUEL GREW BEFORE THE LORD: in age and stature, in grace and goodness, and improved much in the worship and service of God, both in the theory and practice of it; or became great with him, high in his esteem and favour, and was blessed with much of his presence, an

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....

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

AND THE CHILD SAMUEL GREW BEFORE THE LORD— See 1 Samuel 2:26 and Luke 2:52. As he increased in stature, he increased in wisdom; as parents may be assured will always be the case with those children whom they dedicate early to the Lord, and into whose young minds they carefully instill the divine precepts of religion and truth....

_Samuel's service in the Tabernacle._ 1 Samuel 2:18-26 18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, _being_ a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19 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. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord gave thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. 21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled _at_ the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings