1 Samuel 2

1 At that time Hannah [the mother of Samuel, a prophet] prayed: “My heart [the center of feelings, will, and intellect] rejoices [exults, is glad] in the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] in whom my horn [a horn; a hill or peak] is exalted [lifted up, elevated]. My mouth [lips, edge of something] speaks boldly [is enlarged, opened wide] against my enemies [those who hate or oppose me], for I rejoice [am glad, celebrate] in Your salvation [deliverance, victory, being saved from trouble]. word study 2 There is no one [none, nothing] holy [set apart, sacred] like the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. Indeed, there is no one [none, nothing] besides You [except you, apart from you]! And there is no Rock [strong refuge, boulder] like our God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 3 Do not [by no means, never] boast so proudly [exceedingly, with haughtiness], or let arrogance [proud talk, presumptuous speech] come from your mouth [lips, the edge of your speech], for the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] is a God [El, the all-powerful One] who knows [has knowledge, understands all], and by Him [His discerning judgment] actions [deeds, all that is done] are weighed [measured, evaluated, judged]. word study 4 The bows [weapons of war, instruments of strength] of the mighty [strong men, warriors] are broken [shattered, crushed], but the feeble [weak, stumbling] are equipped [girded, surrounded] with strength [power, might, Helech]. word study 5 The well-fed [sated, fully satisfied] hire themselves out for food [bread, grain], but the starving [hungry, in need] hunger no more [cease, come to an end]. The barren [sterile, childless] woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons [children, descendants] pines away [weakens, becomes feeble]. word study 6 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] brings [causes, puts] death [to die, as a punishment] and gives [makes alive, revives] life [to live, have life]; He brings [sends] down [to go down, descend] to Sheol [the underworld, hell, the grave] and raises [brings up, ascends] up. word study 7 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] sends [causes to come, brings] poverty [lack of material wealth, humble circumstances] and wealth [prosperity, riches]; He humbles [abases, brings low] and He exalts [lifts up, honors]. word study 8 He raises [lifts up, exalts] the poor [needy, destitute] from the dust [dry earth, humble condition] and lifts [exalts, raises] the needy [oppressed, impoverished] from the ash heap [dunghill, refuse pile]. He seats them [cause them to sit] among princes [noble ones, rulers] and bestows on them [gives to them, grants] a throne of honor [glory, majestic splendor]. For the foundations [pillars, base] of the earth [land, world] are the LORD’s [Yehovah, the sovereign God], and upon them He has set [established, placed] the world [earth, inhabited earth]. word study 9 He guards [keeps, watches over] the steps [feet, paths] of His faithful ones [pious, holy ones, saints], but the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] perish [come to an end, are silenced] in darkness [misery, spiritual darkness]; for by his own strength [power, might] shall no man [individual, human] prevail [be strong, succeed]. word study 10 Those who oppose [strive with, contend against] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will be shattered [broken to pieces]. He will thunder [make a loud, rumbling sound] from heaven [the visible universe, the abode of God] against them. The LORD [the supreme Judge] will judge [plead a cause, govern] the ends [the most remote places] of the earth [the land, the material world] and will give [bestow, grant] power [strength, might] to His king [the monarch, the ruler]. He will exalt [lift up, elevate] the horn [a horn; a hill or peak] of His anointed [Messiah, the one set apart].” word study 11 Then Elkanah [went to his house, returned home] went home to Ramah [a city in Palestine, his dwelling place], but the boy [youth, young servant] began ministering [serving, attending to the needs of] to the LORD [Yehovah] before [in the presence of, under the direction of] Eli [the high priest, spiritual leader] the priest [one who serves God, spiritual mediator]. word study 12 Now the sons [children, descendants] of Eli [a high priest] were wicked [evil, worthless] men [sons of Belial]; they had no regard [did not know, did not respect] for the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] word study 13 or for the custom [role, office] of the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders] with the people [nation, congregation]. When any man [individual, person] offered a sacrifice [an act of worship, a gift to God], the servant [young attendant, minister] of the priest [spiritual leader, mediator] would come with a three-pronged [having three teeth, a fork-like instrument] meat fork [flesh-hook, used for sacrifices] while the meat [flesh, animal offering] was boiling [being cooked, prepared] word study 14 and plunge it into the pan [caldron, or cooking pot] or kettle [a large container for boiling] or cauldron [a large pot for cooking] or cooking pot [a vessel for preparing food]. And the priest [a person who serves God and leads others in worship] would claim for himself whatever the meat fork [a three-pronged fork] brought up. This is how [thus, in this way] they treated all [every single one] the Israelites [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] who came to Shiloh [a city of rest, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept]. word study 15 Even before [at an earlier time, prior to] the fat [the richest or best part] was burned, the servant [young attendant, minister] of the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] would come and say to the man who was sacrificing [offering, giving up], “Give the priest [spiritual leader, mediator] some meat [flesh, animal tissue] to roast [cook over an open fire], because he will not accept [refuse, decline] boiled [cooked in water, ripened] meat from you, but only [exclusively, solely] raw [uncooked, alive].” word study 16 And if any man [a person, individual] said to him, “The fat [the richest or best part] must be burned [offered, given to God] first; then you may take [receive, get] whatever you want [desire, wish],” the servant would reply, “No [not at all], you must give [provide, offer] it to me right now [at this moment, immediately]. If you refuse [deny, say no], I will take [seize, claim] it by force [with strength, violently]!” word study 17 Thus the sin [guilt, rebellion against God] of these young men [youth, from infancy to adolescence] was severe [great, exceedingly serious] in the sight [presence, face] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], for they were treating [despising, showing contempt] the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] offering [gift, sacrifice] with contempt [spurning, scorn]. word study 18 Now Samuel [a youth, Shemuel] was ministering [serving, attending to the needs of] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]—a boy [a young child, a youth] wearing [girded with, clothed in] a linen [made from flax] ephod [a priestly vest, a garment of ministry]. word study 19 Each year his mother [the female parent, a maternal figure] would make [create, fashion] him a little [small in size, amount, or importance] robe [an outer garment] and bring [to carry, to take] it to him when she went [to ascend, to go up] with her husband [man, a male person] to offer [to sacrifice, to slaughter an animal] the annual [yearly, from year to year] sacrifice [an act of offering, a religious offering]. word study 20 And Eli [the high priest] would bless [invoke God’s favor, pronounce a benediction] Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] give you children [seed, offspring] by this woman [his wife, Hannah] in place of [as a replacement for, in exchange for] the one she dedicated [consecrated, set apart] to the LORD [in worship and service].” Then they would go [walk, journey] home [to their own place, their residence]. word study 21 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] attended to [visited, overseen] Hannah [grace], and she conceived [became pregnant] and gave birth to three [a multitude of] sons and two [a pair of] daughters. Meanwhile, the boy [youth, young one] Samuel [Shemuel, heard by God] grew up [matured, increased] in the presence [with, together] of the LORD [the supreme God]. word study 22 Now Eli [a high priest, leader of the people] was very old [advanced in years, aged], and he heard about everything [all that was done, every matter] his sons were doing [committing, practicing] to all Israel [the nation, God’s chosen people] and how they were sleeping with [lying with, having relations with] the women [females, wives] who served [ministered, attended] at the entrance [doorway, gate] to the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, sacred assembly]. word study 23 “Why are you doing [such evil, wicked] these things [deeds, actions]?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear [am hearing, am told] about your [evil, bad] wicked deeds [dealings, ways] from [among, by] all [every one of] these people [the nation, the crowd]. word study 24 No, my sons [children, descendants]; it is not [lo, a negation] a good [pleasant, beneficial] report [tidings, news] I hear [am listening, paying attention] circulating [being passed on, spread] among [within, among the community of] the LORD’s [Yehovah] people [nation, community]. word study 25 If a man [an individual, a person] sins [misses the mark, rebels against God’s will] against another man, God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] can intercede [mediate, act as a referee] for him; but if a man sins [commits a trespass, violates God’s law] against the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], who [what person, what authority] can intercede [pray, make amends] for him?” But they would not listen [obey, heed] to their father, since the LORD [the sovereign God] intended [was pleased, had determined] to put them to death [cause them to die, destroy them]. word study 26 And the boy [youth, young person] Samuel continued to grow [becoming older, increasing] in stature [physical growth, maturity] and in favor [approval, goodwill] with the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] and with man [human beings, people, also]. word study 27 Then a man [a prophet, messenger of God] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘Did I not clearly [plainly, openly] reveal [uncover, make known] Myself to your father’s [ancestors, paternal lineage] house [family, household] when they were in Egypt [as slaves, in bondage] under Pharaoh’s [the king of Egypt, ruler] house [palace, kingdom]? word study 28 And out of [from among] all the tribes [clans, families] of Israel I selected [chose, appointed] your father to be My priest [spiritual leader, mediator], to offer [present, bring] sacrifices [gifts, offerings] on My altar [place of sacrifice, worship], to burn [offer, make] incense [a sweet fragrance, prayer], and to wear [bear, have] an ephod [a sacred vest] in My presence [before Me, in My sight]. I also gave [bestowed, granted] to the house [family, household] of your father all the offerings [sacrifices, gifts] of the Israelites [God’s people, descendants of Jacob] made by fire [burnt, consecrated]. word study 29 Why then do you kick [tread down, despise] at My sacrifice [offering, gift to God] and offering [gift, donation] that I have prescribed [commanded, ordained] for My dwelling place [habitation, sanctuary]? You have honored [glorified, esteemed] your sons [children, descendants] more than Me by fattening [enriching, indulging] yourselves with the best [chiefest, finest] of all the offerings [sacrifices, gifts] of My people [nation, congregation] Israel [God’s chosen, Jacob’s descendants].’ word study 30 Therefore, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say [promised, uttered] that your house [family, dwelling place] and the house [family, descendants] of your father [ancestor, patriarch] would walk [serve, follow] before Me [in My presence, face to face] forever [always, eternally]. But now [at this time, presently] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] declares: Far be it from Me [God forbid, may it not be]! For I will honor [glorify, esteem] those who honor [respect, reverence] Me, but those who despise [hold in contempt, disregard] Me will be disdained [treated with contempt, lightly esteemed]. word study 31 Behold [look, see], the days [a period of time, a season] are coming when I will cut off [destroy, remove] your strength [arm, power, ability] and the strength [arm, power, ability] of your father’s house [family, household], so that no older man [elderly, mature] will be left [remain, exist] in your house [family, dwelling place]. word study 32 You will see [behold, gaze upon] distress [affliction, trouble, adversary] in My dwelling place [habitation, sanctuary, home]. Despite all that is good [pleasant, joyful, prosperous] in Israel [the chosen people, Jacob’s descendants], no one [not a single person] in your house [family, household, lineage] will ever again [for all time, throughout the ages] reach [attain, arrive at] old age [maturity, elderliness, advanced years]. word study 33 And every one of you that I do not [completely destroy, cut off from serving] cut off from My altar [place of sacrifice, where offerings are made], your eyes [sources of vision, understanding] will fail [become dim, lose sight] and your heart [inner being, soul] will grieve [experience deep sorrow, pain]. All your descendants [offspring, posterity] will die [perish, meet their end] by the sword [instrument of war, violence] of men [human beings, mortal men]. word study 34 And this [specific, miraculous] sign [a beacon or wonder] shall come to you concerning your two [pair of] sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both [together, simultaneously] die [pass away, meet their end] on the same [one and only] day [a 24-hour period, a point in time]. word study 35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful [trustworthy, reliable] priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship]. He will do whatever is in My heart [the innermost part of My being, including My mind, will, and emotions] and mind [My thoughts and intentions]. And I will build for him an enduring [lasting, steadfast] house [a dwelling place, a family, or a lineage], and he will walk [serve, minister] before My anointed one [the Messiah, the chosen King] for all time [forever, throughout all eternity]. word study 36 And everyone [all who remain, every survivor] left in your house [family, household, descendants] will come and bow down [crouch, prostrate themselves] to him for a piece [small amount, fragment] of silver [money, wealth] or a morsel [small portion, crumb] of bread [food, sustenance], pleading [begging, entreating], “Please [I pray, I beseech] appoint me to some priestly office [position of spiritual leadership, role of ministering] so that I can eat [devour, consume] a piece [morsel, fragment] of bread [food, nourishment].”’” word study