1 Samuel 2
Hannah’s Song and Eli’s Judgment
In this section, the author contrasts the exaltation of the humble (Hannah and Samuel) and the demise of the proud (Eli and his sons), illustrating a major theme of the book - that God honored those who honored Him.
Hannah Prayed
In this prayer, which contains no petition, Hannah articulated her belief that God rewards trust with blessing. He turns barrenness into fertility, not just in her case but universally. Mary, the mother of Jesus, incorporated some of Hannah’s song in her own "Magnificat" (Luke 1:46-55). The whole point of this inspired poetic prayer is that people should trust in the Lord. Hannah had done this, and God had blessed her miraculously. - Thomas Constable
Praise
Vs. 1 - Hannah prayed
Overjoyed at all that God had done for her, Hannah could now laugh at those who had mocked her. She praised God for his just action in helping the downtrodden and reversing the wrongs she had suffered. God had humbled the proud and exalted the humble. And what God had done for Hannah, he could do for others. Neither the people of Israel nor their rulers needed to fear their enemies if they trusted faithfully in the saving power of God. - Don Fleming
1 Samuel 1:28 ended, “So they worshiped the LORD there.” This song records the worship Hannah offered on the very day she left her little boy – her only child – at the tabernacle, never for him to live in her home again. Hannah showed a depth of commitment and love for God that may humble us. On the day she made the biggest sacrifice of her life, she rejoiced in the LORD. - David Guzik
Humility
Vs. 4 - the feeble are clothed with strength
Vs. 5 - those who are starving hunger no more
Vs. 5 - The woman who is childless gives birth to seven
Vs. 8 - He raises the poor from the dust
Hannah’s worship is a celebration of God’s exaltation of the humble. He responds to the repentant and rejects the rebellious.
Prophecy
Vs. 10 - He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed.
At this time Israel did not have a king and didn’t seem to want one. So when Hannah spoke of His king she looked ahead to the Messiah, who will finally set all wrongs right. He is His anointed.
Zecharias, the father of John the Baptist, quoted Hannah in Luke 1:69 when he prophetically called Jesus a horn of salvation, quoting from 1 Samuel 2:10. Mary the mother of Jesus quoted Hannah’s song often (Luke 1:46-55). - David Guzik
This is the first reference in the OT to the king as the anointed of the Lord. Later, in the eschatological thought of Judaism, this expression became the characteristic title of the expected Deliverer, the Messiah or the Christ, who would alleviate world troubles in a Messianic era. - Fred E. Young, "First and Second Samuel"
Eli’s Sons Were Wicked
Vs. 12 - Eli’s sons were wicked men
Vs. 17 - the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt
Eli the priest had become the judge, or chief administrator, in Israel. He sat at the door of the house of God where people could freely meet him to seek his advice or ask for directions in disputes. His sons, it seems, carried out the routine work in connection with the sacrifices and ceremonies. - Don Fleming
Hophni and Phinehas were taking the priestly share of the fellowship offerings “before the fat was burned”—that is, before the Lord had been given his portion (Lev 3:3–5; 7:30). Furthermore, the priests were consuming fat from the sacrificial animals, an act explicitly prohibited in the Torah (Lev 7:22–26). In addition, they used the threat of violence to get their way. This blasphemous expression of self-interest and disregard for the law was a sin that “was very great in the Lord’s sight” (v. 17; Lev 7:25). Even the laypersons, who acceded to the wrongful demands placed on them, were more pious than the priests and their servants in that they tried to get the priests to give the Lord his portion first. - Robert D. Bergen
Samuel Grew Up
Vs. 18 - Samuel served in the Lord’s presence
Vs. 20 - the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord
Vs. 26 - By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
Throughout this section, the author contrasts his description of the corrupt sons of Eli with his account of Samuel growing and serving in the Lord’s presence. Just like Hannah’s song, God was exalting the humble.
As bad as Eli’s sons were, Samuel was different. If Eli’s sons were not worthy successors, then God would raise up someone else. Ultimately, corrupt ministers do not stop – or even hinder – the work of God. It may look like it, but every time there are men like Eli’s sons, God raises up someone like Samuel. God’s work does not stop when God’s ministers become corrupt. - David Guzik
A Man of God Came to Eli
Rebellion
Vs. 25 - If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?”
Eli’s question eventually forms in the minds of all men who hear God’s law but find themselves incapable of keeping it completely. Every failed leader in Israel highlighted the desperate need for an Intercessor.
Vs. 29 - You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.
Eli’s guilt lay in his failure to rebuke his sons severely for their sin, though he did warn them of God’s judgment. He also enjoyed the fruits of their disobedient worship. Had Eli grown fat from eating the best portions that his sons extorted from the people (cf. 1 Samuel 4:18)? - Thomas Constable
To some degree, it seems that Eli had participated, perhaps indirectly, in the sins of his sons.
Warning
Vs. 30 - “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.
Many students of this book have identified 1 Samuel 2:30 as its key verse because it articulates the principle that the books of Samuel illustrate. Every section of 1 and 2 Samuel demonstrates the truth of this statement. - Thomas Constable
Judgment
Vs. 31 - I will cut off your strength
God revealed that He would cut off Eli’s branch of the Levitical family tree. Eli was a descendant of Levi through Levi’s son Ithamar. His descendants ceased to function as priests when Solomon dismissed Abiathar as high priest. Abiathar escaped the slaughter of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:17-20), but Solomon defrocked him because he supported Adonijah (1 Kings 2:27; 1 Kings 2:35). - Thomas Constable
Vs. 33 - All your descendents will die violently
God then sent a prophet to Eli to announce a divine judgment upon the ungodly family. He would take the priesthood away from the family of Eli, and give it to a man more worthy of it. - Don Fleming
There is no example in scripture of any man being punished for the sins of his father. Every man is given his own opportunity to repent or rebel. That God would continue to judge the descendants of Eli reveals that his posterity would continue to disobey in similar ways to Hophni and Phineas.
A Faithful Priest Will Come
Vs. 35 - I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.
Some suggest Samuel is intended by the phrase “a faithful priest,” but Samuel did not have “a lasting dynasty.” The term may denote the priestly line of Zadok, who eventually succeeded Eli's line (1 Kings 2:27), or any and all the following priests who followed the Lord faithfully. “My anointed one” designates the line of David, for whom God also built a lasting dynasty. - Bryan E. Beyer
This seems to have been spoken of Zadok, who was anointed high priest in the room of Abiathar, the last descendant of the house of Eli. He shall minister before Solomon, and the kings which shall reign in the land. - Adam Clarke
Many commentators do see a Messianic element to this prophecy also. Doubtless, the use of the term MESSIAH (Χριστὸς Christos) here and in 1 Samuel 2:10, is significant, and points to the Lord’s Christ, in whom the royal and priestly offices are united. - Albert Barnes
