1 Samuel 2:26

_AND THE CHILD SAMUEL GREW ON, AND WAS IN FAVOUR BOTH WITH THE LORD, AND ALSO WITH MEN._ 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...

AND THE CHILD SAMUEL ... - The account of our Lord’s growth Luke 2:52 is very similar; “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” The literal version of the passage before us is, “The child Samuel advanced and grew and was good (or acceptable), both with the Lord, and also with men.”...

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 CHILD SAMUEL GREW UP,.... Increased in stature and in grace, grew more and more in all respects, and better and better, while Eli's sons grew worse and worse; the contrast between these make the one to shine and appear illustrious, and the other to look the blacker: or "he went on, and grew, and was good" z; as he proceeded on in years, and grew in stature, he appeared more and more to be a good man, a virtuous, holy, and gracious person: AND WAS IN FAVOUR BOTH WITH THE LORD, AND ALSO WITH MEN; the Lord was pleased to give him some tokens of his favour, that he delighted in him, that he was wellpleasing in his sight, and that his person and services were acceptable to him; and the more Eli's sons disgusted the people by their ill lives and conduct, the greater esteem among them did Samuel obtain by his becoming life and conversation; all admired him, spoke well of him, and thank...

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

ELI REMONSTRATES WITH HIS SONS. 1 Samuel 2:22. and. how that. meeting: should probably be omitted with LXX (_cf._ Exodus 38:8). TENT OF MEETING: see Exodus 33:7. 1 Samuel 2:24. that I hear, etc.: better, which I hear the Lord's people do spread abroad (_mg.)._ 1 Samuel 2:25. judge him: render mediate for him. 1 Samuel 2:26. _Cf._ Luke 2:5

Eli's fruitless expostulations with his sons 22. _heard_ " USED TO HEAR all that his sons WERE DOING," constantly and habitually. _the women that assembled_ Rather, THAT SERVED. The word is applied to (_a_) military service: (_b_) Levitical service (Numbers 4:13; Numbers 8:24): and it seems probable that the women mentioned here and in Exodus 38:8, where the same words are used, had regular duties in connexion with the tabernacle service. The example of the abominations connected with the Phoenician worship of Ashtaroth may have helped to corrupt the priests of Shiloh. _the tabernacle of the congregation_ Rather, THE TENT OF MEETING, where Jehovah would meet an

_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

HANNAH'S SONG OF THANKSGIVING. THE SIN OF ELI'S SONS 1-10. The Song of Hannah. This beautiful poem has been well called the 'Magnificat of the Old Testament.' The song of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:46) is clearly modelled on it very closely. In each case there is the rejoicing over the exaltation of the poor and despised and the humiliation of the rich. But there is a world of difference between Mary's quiet and restrained gratitude and calm confidence in God's mercy, on the one hand, and the exultant and almost fierce triumph of this song. 1 Samuel 2:5 has doubtless led to the attribution of the song to Hannah; but in its general tone it seems more suitable to some public person, and 1 Samuel 2:10 (unless it be an inter