2:1 And Hannah a prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the
LORD, mine b horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is c
enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy
salvation.
(a) After she had obtained a son by prayer she gave thanks.
(b) I have recovered strength and glory by the benefit of
the Lord.
(c) I can answer them that criticize my barrenness.
2:3 Talk d no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy
come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of
knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
(d) In that you condemn my barrenness, you show your pride
against God.
2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for e
bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the
barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is
waxed feeble.
(e) They sell their labours for necessary food.
2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the
beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among f princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the
pillars of the earth [are] the g LORD'S, and he hath set
the world upon them.
(f) He prefers to honour, and does according to his own
will, though man's judgment is contrary.
(g) Therefore he may dispose all things according to his
will.
2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out
of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge
the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his
h king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
(h) She grounded her prayer on Jesus Christ who was to
come.
2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did
minister unto the i LORD before Eli the priest.
(i) In all that Eli commanded him.
2:12 Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they k knew
not the LORD.
(k) That is, they neglected his ordinance.
2:14 And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or
pot; l all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took
for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites
that came thither.
(l) Transgressing the order appointed in the Law,
(Le 7:31), for their bellies sake.
2:15 Also before they burnt the m fat, the priest's servant
came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to
roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of
thee, but raw.
(m) Which was commanded first to have been offered to God.
2:16 And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn
the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul
n desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou
shalt give [it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by
force.
(n) Not passing for their own profit, so that God might be
served rightly.
2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before
the LORD: for men o abhorred the offering of the LORD.
(o) Seeing the horrible abuse of it.
2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto
all Israel; and how they lay with the women that p
assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
(p) Which was (as the Hebrews write) after their travail,
when they came to be purified,
read (Ex 38:8, Le 12:6).
2:24 Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye
make the LORD'S people to q transgress.
(q) Because they contemn their duty to God, (1Sa 2:17).
2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him:
but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for
him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of
their father, because the LORD r would slay them.
(r) So that to obey good admonition is God's mercy, and to
disobey them is his just judgment for sin.
2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him,
Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of
thy s father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
(s) That is, Aaron.
2:29 Wherefore t kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,
which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest
thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest
of all the offerings of Israel my people?
(t) Why have you contemned my sacrifices, and as it were
trod them under foot?
2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed
[that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk
before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, u Be it far
from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they
that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
(u) God's promises are only effective to those he gives
faith to fear and obey him.
2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine x arm,
and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be
an old man in thine house.
(x) Thy power and authority.
2:32 And thou y shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all
[the wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and there shall
not be an old man in thine house for ever.
(y) Your posterity will see the glory of the chief priest
given to another, whom they will envy, (1Ki 2:27).
2:35 And I will raise me up a z faithful priest, [that] shall
do according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my
mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk
before mine anointed for ever.
(z) Meaning Zadok, who succeeded Abiathar, and was the
figure of Christ.
2:36 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in
thine house shall come [and] a crouch to him for a piece
of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I
pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat
a piece of bread.
