1 Samuel 2:1-36

Israel’s First King

1 Samuel

Helen Pocock

Chapter 2

Hannah’s prayer

v1 Hannah prayed and said,

‘I am very happy when I think about the *Lord.

The *Lord has made me very strong.

I can speak against my enemies.

I am very glad because you, *Lord, have saved me.

v2 No one else is holy like the *Lord.

There is no other God except you.

There is no rock like our God.

v3 Do not continue your loud boast.

Do not speak proud words.

The *Lord is a God who knows everything.

And he judges what people do.

v4 The bows of strong soldiers break.

But weak people become strong.

v5 The people who had plenty of food now have to work to get food.

But the people who were hungry are not hungry any more.

The woman who could not have any children now has seven.

But the woman who had many children is now very weak.

v6 The *Lord sends death and he makes people alive again.

He sends people to the grave and he raises them up again.

v7 The *Lord makes some people poor and he makes other people rich.

He makes some people humble and he makes other people great.

v8 The *Lord raises up the poor people from the dust.

He lifts up the people from the rubbish pile who need help.

He lets poor people be friends with princes.

And he puts poor people in places of honour.

The foundations of the earth belong to the *Lord.

He built the world on them.

v9 He protects the people who are loyal to him.

But wicked people will be silent in the darkness.

Men will not be successful just because they are strong.

v10 The *Lord will destroy his enemies.

When God is against them, it will sound like a noisy storm in heaven.

The *Lord will judge all the earth.

He will give power to his king.

He will *anoint a king and make him strong’.

v11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But Samuel stayed in Shiloh. He served God with Eli the priest.

Hannah prayed a prayer that was full of praises to God. It is like a poem. Hannah may have made it up herself. Or it might be a prayer that already existed. It starts with personal praise. Then it shows that God rules the whole world. Many parts of this prayer are similar to Mary’s prayer. Mary prayed when she was expecting the baby Jesus (Luke 1:46-55).

Hannah was very happy to have a son. But God, not her son, made her most happy (verse 1). Hannah felt shame when she had no children. God saved her from this shame. She could now speak against Peninnah who had been unkind for many years. God gave Hannah courage and he made her strong. Hannah tells how special God is (verse 2). There is no one else like God. The Bible often uses picture language to describe God. A ‘rock’ means that God is strong and firm. A rock is a strong base for a house. This shows that people can depend on God.

‘Loud boast’ means to speak in a proud way so that everyone can hear (verse 3). This is how Peninnah spoke to Hannah. But God sees everything. He often changes situations. He helps the people who cannot help themselves (verses 4-5). ‘The woman who could not have any children now has seven’ (verse 5). This phrase means that God completely answered Hannah’s prayer. ‘Seven’ can also mean ‘many’. In verse 21, we read that Hannah had 5 more children.

‘The rubbish pile’ (verse 8) was the place where people threw their rubbish. It was outside the city or town. It was a dusty place and had a bad smell. Very poor people did not own anything. So, they went to the rubbish pile to look for food and clothes.

‘The foundations of the earth’. The people thought that God made the physical earth in this way. A foundation is the solid base for a building. This sentence is also picture language. It means that God makes everything firm. And he controls all things. Because God can control the earth, he can also protect his people (verses 9-10). ‘Silent in the darkness’ refers to death. In the end, God destroys his enemies. The people who trust God will succeed.

At this time, *Israel did not have a king. So the part of Hannah’s prayer at the end of verse 10 is a *prophecy. The *Israelites realised that this referred to a future king. They knew that it was the custom to *anoint kings (Judges 9:15). The *Israelites expected God to give them an ideal king. Samuel *anointed Saul as the first king of *Israel. Later Samuel *anointed David as king. This verse refers first to King David. It also refers to Jesus. The *Hebrew word for *anoint is ‘Messiah’. Jesus was the ideal king, the ‘Messiah’, that God promised in the *Old Testament.

Although Samuel was only a young boy, his parents left him with Eli the priest. Samuel helped Eli and did the housework in the *temple. This is how he served God.

Eli’s wicked sons

v12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They did not know God.

v13 People brought *sacrifices to Shiloh. And this is how these priests behaved. First, they boiled the meat in a pot. Then a servant of the priest came to the pot. He had a fork that had 3 points. v14 He pushed the fork into the pot or pan. Whatever came out on the fork belonged to the priest. They did this to all the *Israelites when they came to Shiloh. v15 Often, the servant of the priest came to the people before they had burned the fat on the *sacrifice. The servant said, ‘Give the priest some meat to bake. He will not accept boiled meat from you; he will only accept raw meat’. v16 Sometimes, the person said, ‘You must burn the fat first. Then you can take what you want’. The servant would reply, ‘No. Give me the meat now or I will seize it from you’.

v17 The *Lord saw what the young men did. They did not show respect for the *sacrifices that people gave to the *Lord. The *Lord thought that their *sin was very bad.

The priests served God. This was their job. They did not have any land that they could farm. The ordinary people had to give God one tenth of everything that they had. The Bible calls this a ‘tithe’. God gave most of this food to the priests and *Levites (Numbers 18:21-28). They could also eat certain parts of the *sacrifices (Leviticus 7:28-36). The sons of Eli were priests. But they were wicked men. They did not do what God commanded. They did not understand God or care about him. They were selfish and took what they wanted to eat. They even used force. They did not respect the *sacrifices. They did not respect the people or give honour to God. Eli’s sons did not know God. But God knew them and he was not happy with them.

Samuel at Shiloh

v18 But Samuel served the *Lord. He was a young boy. He wore a *linen *ephod. v19 Every year Samuel’s mother made him a little coat. She took it to him when she went to Shiloh. She and her husband went there every year to give the *sacrifices. v20 Then Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife. He said, ‘Hannah prayed for a son and then gave him back to the *Lord. May the *Lord give you and Hannah children to take the place of Samuel’. Then they went to their own home. v21 The *Lord was kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up in the house of the *Lord.

v22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything that his sons did to all the *Israelites. Women served at the entrance of the house of the *Lord. Eli’s sons had sex with them. v23 Eli said to his sons, ‘Why do you do these evil things? People have told me what you do. v24 No, my sons. The *Lord’s people are spreading a bad report about you. v25 If you do something wicked to another person, God can help you. But if you act in a wicked way towards the *Lord, no one can help you’. Eli’s sons did not listen to him because the *Lord planned to kill them.

v26 The boy Samuel continued to grow bigger. And he continued to please the *Lord and people.

The priests wore special clothes when they served God. An ‘*ephod’ was like a coat. Samuel wore a simple *ephod. ‘*Linen’ is a material like cotton. It is a very good quality material. The chief priest had a *linen *ephod (Exodus 28:6). Hannah did not forget her son. She cared for him although he lived in Shiloh. Every year she made him a new coat with the best quality material. Samuel always had something to wear, as he grew bigger. Hannah gave her son to God. Then God blessed Hannah with more than she had asked for. God gave her five more children.

These verses contrast Hannah’s son and Eli’s sons. Samuel learned all about the work that Eli did at the house of the *Lord. Samuel started serving God when he was very young. He continued to do this all his life. Eli probably trained his sons as priests when they were young. They continued to be priests when they were older. But they behaved as wicked men. They did not know God (verse 12). So, they did not do the things that pleased God. They did not keep the law. They did not honour their father (Exodus 20:12).

God was pleased with Samuel. He was not pleased with Eli’s sons. God wanted good priests not wicked priests. God is holy. He wants his people to be holy too (Leviticus 11:44-45). In verse 25, Eli warned his sons that God would deal with them. They had not obeyed God, so God punished them.

The *prophecy against Eli’s family

v27 A man of God came and spoke to Eli. This is what he said. ‘The *Lord says, “A long time ago your family *ancestors lived in the country of Egypt. They were slaves to the king of Egypt. I clearly showed myself to your *ancestor Aaron. v28 I chose him and his family from all of the *tribes in *Israel. I chose them to be priests. They go up to my *altar and burn incense. They can wear the special *ephod. I also let them eat part of the *sacrifices and *burnt offerings that the *Israelites give. v29 I commanded my people to give these *sacrifices and *offerings to me. Why do you want them for yourself? Eli, why, do you give more honour to your sons than to me? You eat all the best parts of the *offerings that the *Israelites give to me. You have become fat”.

v30 Because of what you have done, the *Lord God of *Israel says this to you. “I promised that your family, and your *ancestor’s family, would serve me as priests for ever”. But the *Lord says, “This will not happen now. If people give me honour, I will give them honour. But if people think that I am worth nothing then I will give them no honour. v31 The time will come soon when you will die. Also, I will kill the young men in your family. No one in your family will ever grow old.

v32 You will see trouble in the house of the *Lord. Although I will do good things for the *Israelites, there will never be an old man in your family. v33 I will not completely cut off your family from serving at my *altar. However, you will cry and be sad. All your family will die when they are young. v34 Hophni and Phinehas, your two sons, will die on the same day. That will be the proof that I have spoken the truth.

v35 I will choose a priest who will be loyal to me. He will do everything that I want him to do. I will make his family continue. They will always serve the one that I *anoint. v36 Everyone in your family who continues to live will bow down to this priest. They will appeal to him for food and money. ‘Please let me help the priests so I can have some food to eat’, they will say”.’

‘Man of God’ is another name for a *prophet. A *prophet hears God and speaks for him. We do not know the name of this *prophet. However, he came with a very important message about future events.

First, God reminded Eli that God chose Aaron and his family as priests. ‘*ancestors’ are the members of someone’s family who lived a long time ago, even hundreds of years ago. Then God spoke about the work that the priests did. And he spoke about the food that he provided for them. The ‘altar’ was like a wooden table. It had a metal cover all over it. The priests offered the *sacrifices to God on the altar. The priests had to burn some of the *sacrifices. These are the ‘*burnt offerings’. Incense is a substance that the priests burned. Its smoke smelled sweet. The ‘special *ephod’ is probably the *ephod that the high priest wore. There is more detail about it in Exodus, Chapter s 28-29.

Eli allowed his sons to behave in the wrong way as priests. In verses 13-16, they were not satisfied with the pieces of meat that God allowed them to have (Leviticus 7:28-36). Verse 22 says that they had wrong sex. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 says that a father should discipline his son. If his son refused, the leaders of the town should judge that son. Then the people of the town should kill the son. God wanted evil removed from among the *Israelites. But Eli was greedy too and he became fat.

God chose Aaron’s family to be priests for ever. But they had to obey God and give him honour. Here, God warned Eli. God gave Eli this last opportunity to confess his *sins. He wanted Eli to change his behaviour. Eli and his sons did not obey God, so God punished them. Their punishment was severe. God wanted to remove all wicked priests from their family for ever.

The words from the man of God came true. Hophni and Phinehas both died on the same day. Eli died on that day too (1 Samuel 4). King Saul killed many of the priests in Eli’s family in chapter 22. Then King Solomon removed a priest called Abiathar in 1 Kings 2:26-27; 1 Kings 2:35. Zadok was the priest instead of him.

‘You will see trouble in the house of the *Lord’ (verse 32). The first trouble happened in chapter 4.

God never changed his decision about Eli’s family. But God did good things for all the other *Israelites. Verse 36 is like part of Hannah’s prayer in verse 5. Eli and his sons were fat with all their food, but their family would be hungry in the end.

The ‘priest who will be loyal’ (verse 35) refers to Samuel and to Zadok. ‘My *anointed one’ refers to the same person as in 2:10. If one person fails to obey God, God will call someone else. God will always complete his purposes in the end.

Lord ~ the name of God in the Bible. The special name of God that he announced only to the Israelites (Genesis 3:13-15). It links God with his covenant (promise) to them.

Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
anoint ~ to mark a person with oil to show that God has chosen him for a special job.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
prophecy ~ the words that a person speaks on God’s behalf.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.

Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.

Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
temple ~ a special building where people went to praise false gods. Also the building that Solomon built in the town of Jerusalem. The Israelites went to this temple to worship the true God.

gods ~ gods with a small ‘g’ are all the false gods.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
worship ~ to thank God and to give him honour, usually with other people. Often, people pray and sing as they worship God. To bend down to God or to a false god to show him honour.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
sacrifice ~ to give something to God, usually an animal, grain or wine; to ask God to forgive sins as the priest killed an animal. This sacrifice was a special animal. The priests killed and burned it on the altar.

sin ~ when people do things against God or other people; when people do not obey the commands of God; the things that people do that are wrong or evil.
altar ~ a table, where the priests burned animals and gave other gifts as a sacrifice to God or false gods.
sin ~ when people do things against God or other people; when people do not obey the commands of God; the things that people do that are wrong or evil.
Levites ~ men who came from the tribe of Levi. They worked in the house of the Lord and they helped the priests. They did not own any land.

tribe ~ a family from one man. The first Israelites were the 12 sons of Jacob. The family of each son became a tribe.
Lord ~ the name of God in the Bible. The special name of God that he announced only to the Israelites (Genesis 3:13-15). It links God with his covenant (promise) to them.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
linen ~ a type of material that is like cotton. Linen is a very good quality material.
ephod ~ a special coat that the main priest wore when he served God and prayed to God (Exodus 28). Other priests wore a plain linen ephod.

linen ~ a type of material that is like cotton. Linen is a very good quality material.
linen ~ a type of material that is like cotton. Linen is a very good quality material.
ancestor ~ the members of someone’s family who lived a long time ago, even hundreds of years ago.
tribe ~ a family from one man. The first Israelites were the 12 sons of Jacob. The family of each son became a tribe.

Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
altar ~ a table, where the priests burned animals and gave other gifts as a sacrifice to God or false gods.

sacrifice ~ to give something to God, usually an animal, grain or wine; to ask God to forgive sins as the priest killed an animal. This sacrifice was a special animal. The priests killed and burned it on the altar.
sin ~ when people do things against God or other people; when people do not obey the commands of God; the things that people do that are wrong or evil.
offering ~ a gift for God (or false gods) from the priest and people; an Israelite’s gift to God.

gods ~ gods with a small ‘g’ are all the false gods.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel; the people who speak the Hebrew language.
Israel ~ the group of people that God chose. Israel is the name of all the people from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel is also the name of the land that God gave to the people of Israel.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Israelite people. A Hebrew is an Israelite person.
prophet ~ a person who speaks for God. He can sometimes say what will happen in the future.