1 Samuel 2

(Luke 1:46–56)

1At that time HannahH2584H559 prayedH6419:

11Then ElkanahH511 wentH1980 homeH1004 to RamahH7414H5921, but the boyH5288H1961 began ministeringH8334 toH853 the LORDH3068 beforeH6440 EliH5941 the priestH3548.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12Now the sonsH1121 of EliH5941 were wickedH1100 menH1121; they had noH3808 regardH3045 for the LORDH3068 13or for the customH4941 of the priestsH3548 withH854 the peopleH5971.

When anyH3605 manH376 offeredH2076 a sacrificeH2077, the servantH5288 of the priestH3548 would comeH935 with a three-prongedH7969H8127H3027 meat forkH4207 while the meatH1320 was boilingH1310 14and plungeH5221 it into the panH3595 orH176 kettleH1731 orH176 cauldronH7037 orH176 cooking potH6517. And the priestH3548 would claimH3947 for himself whateverH3605 the meat forkH4207 brought upH5927. This is howH3602 they treatedH6213 allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 who cameH935H8033 to ShilohH7887.

15EvenH1571 beforeH2962 the fatH2459 was burnedH6999, the servantH5288 of the priestH3548 would comeH935 and sayH559 to the manH376 who was sacrificingH2076, “GiveH5414 the priestH3548 some meatH1320 to roastH6740, because he will notH3808 acceptH3947 boiledH1310 meatH1320 fromH4480 youH3588, but onlyH518 rawH2416.”

16And if any manH376 saidH559 to himH413, “The fatH2459 must be burnedH6999 firstH3117; then you may takeH3947 whateverH834 youH5315 wantH183,” the servant would replyH559, “NoH3808, you must giveH5414 it to me right nowH6258. If you refuseH518, I will takeH3947 it by forceH2394!”

17Thus the sinH2403 of these young menH5288 wasH1961 severeH1419H3966 in the sightH6440 of the LORDH3068, forH3588 theyH5822 were treating the LORD’sH3068 offeringH4503 with contemptH5006.

18Now SamuelH8050 was ministeringH8334 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068—a boyH5288 wearingH2296 a linenH906 ephodH646. 19Each yearH3117 his motherH517 would makeH6213 him a littleH6996 robeH4598 and bringH5927 it to him when she wentH5927 withH854 her husbandH376 to offerH2076 the annualH3117 sacrificeH2077. 20And EliH5941 would blessH1288 ElkanahH511 and his wifeH802, sayingH559, “May the LORDH3068 giveH7760 you childrenH2233 byH4480 thisH2063 womanH802 in place ofH8478 the oneH7596 she dedicated toH7592 the LORDH3068.3” Then they would goH1980 homeH4725.

21SoH3588 the LORDH3068 attended toH6485 HannahH2584, and she conceivedH2029 and gave birth toH3205 threeH7969 sonsH1121 and twoH8147 daughtersH1323.

Meanwhile, the boyH5288 SamuelH8050 grew upH1431 in the presence ofH5973 the LORDH3068.

22Now EliH5941 was veryH3966 oldH2204, and he heardH8085 about everythingH3605 his sonsH1121 were doingH6213 to allH3605 IsraelH3478 andH853 howH834 they were sleepingH7901 withH853 the womenH802 who servedH6633 at the entranceH6607 to the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

23“WhyH4100 are you doingH6213 theseH428 thingsH1697?” Eli saidH559 to his sons. “IH595 hearH8085 aboutH853 your wickedH7451 deedsH1697 fromH854 allH3605 theseH428 peopleH5971. 24NoH408, my sonsH1121H3588; it is notH3808 a goodH2896 reportH8052 IH595 hearH8085 circulating amongH5674 the LORD’sH3068 peopleH5971. 25IfH518 a manH376 sinsH2398 against another manH376, GodH4304 can intercede for himH6419; but ifH518 a manH376 sinsH2398 against the LORDH3068, whoH4310 can intercedeH6419 for him?”

But they would notH3808 listenH8085H6963 to their fatherH1, sinceH3588 the LORDH3068 intendedH2654 to put them to deathH4191.

26And the boyH5288 SamuelH8050 continued to growH1980 in statureH1432 and in favorH2895H1571 withH5973 the LORDH3068H1571 and withH5973 manH582.

A Prophecy against the House of Eli

27Then a manH376 of GodH430 cameH935 toH413 EliH5941 and toldH559 himH413, “This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: ‘Did I not clearly reveal MyselfH1540 toH413 your father’sH1 houseH1004 when they wereH1961 in EgyptH4714 under Pharaoh’sH6547 houseH1004? 28And out of allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 I selectedH977 your father to be My priestH3548, to offer sacrificesH5927 onH5921 My altarH4196, to burnH6999 incenseH7004, and to wearH5375 an ephodH646 in My presenceH6440. I also gaveH5414 to the houseH1004 of your fatherH1 allH3605 the food offeringsH801 of the IsraelitesH1121H3478.

29Why thenH4100 do you kick atH11635 My sacrificeH2077 and offeringH4503 thatH834 I have prescribedH6680 for My dwelling placeH4583? You have honoredH3513 your sonsH1121 more than MeH4480 by fattening yourselvesH1254 with the bestH7225 of allH3605 the offeringsH4503 of My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478.’

30ThereforeH3651, the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, declaresH5002:

31BeholdH2009, the daysH3117 are comingH935 when I will cut offH1438 your strengthH2220 and the strengthH2220 of your father’sH1 houseH1004, so that no one in itH1004 will reachH1961 old ageH2205. 32You will seeH5027 distressH6862 in My dwelling placeH4583. Despite allH3605 thatH834 is goodH3190 in IsraelH3478, no oneH3808 in your houseH1004 will ever againH3605H3117 reachH1961 old ageH2205. 33And every oneH376 of you that I do notH3808 cut offH3772 fromH5973 My altarH4196, I will cause your eyesH5869 to failH3615 and your heartH5315 to grieveH109.6 AllH3605 your descendantsH4768H10047 will dieH4191 by the sword of menH582.8

34And thisH2088 signH226 shall comeH935 to you concerningH413 your twoH8147 sonsH1121H413 HophniH2652 and PhinehasH6372: They will bothH8147 dieH4191 on the sameH259 dayH3117.

35Then I will raise upH6965 for Myself a faithfulH539 priestH3548. He will doH6213 whateverH834 is in My heartH3824 and mindH5315. And I will buildH1129 for him an enduringH539 houseH1004, and he will walkH1980 beforeH6440 My anointed oneH4899 for all timeH3605H3117.

36AndH1961 everyoneH3605 leftH3498 in your houseH1004 will comeH935 and bow downH7812 to him for a pieceH95 of silverH3701 or a morselH3603 of breadH3899, pleadingH559, “PleaseH4994 appoint meH5596 toH413 someH259 priestly officeH3550 so that I can eatH398 a pieceH6595 of breadH3899.”’”