1 Samuel 2:3

Talk no more so exceeding proudly,.... At such an high rate, in such an overbearing manner, as if above everyone; this may have respect to Peninnah, and all that joined with her to provoke Hannah to

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; thou Peninnah, boast no more of thy numerous offspring, and speak no more insolently and scornfully of me, as thou hast done. She speaks of her in the plural number, brings many because she would not expose her name to censure, but only instruct and reprove her for her good. Arrogancy, Heb. hard speeches, as those are called, , harsh, heavy, and not to be borne. Or, the old sayings; either the old proverbs concerning barren women, which thou appliedst to me; or the old reproaches, to which for a long time thou hast accustomed thyself. The Lord is a God of knowledge; he knoweth thy heart, and all that pride, and envy, and contempt of me which thy own conscience knows, and all thy perverse carriages towards me. By him actions are weighed, i.e. he pondereth or trieth all men’ s thoughts and actions, (for the Hebrew word signifies both,) as a just Judge, to give to every one according to their works; and therefore he hath pitied my oppressed innocency, and rebuked her arrogancy. Or, by him counsels, or actions, or events are disposed or ordered, and not by ourselves; and therefore he things to pass contrary to men’ s expectations, as now he hath done; he maketh one barren, and another fruitful, when and how it pleaseth him. In the Hebrew text it is lo the adverb; and so the words may be rendered thus, His actions are not, or cannot, be directed, or rectified, or corrected by any others; none can mend his work; he doth every thing best, and in the best season, as now he hath done: or weighed, or numbered; his ways are unsearchable. Or thus, Are not his works right and straight? who can blame his actions? So lo is for halo, as it is .

1 Samuel 2:3 Talk 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.Ver. 3. Talk no more so exceeding proudly.] Heb., Multiply not, speak not loftiness, loftiness. Peninnah, that odious woman, had vexed and troubled holy Hannah both in her prayers and meals, with her insolent speeches. Now she is warned to have done, and not to let hard words any more to come out of her mouth, Ne lapides loquantur. See Judges 1:15. And why? for divers good reasons: - For the Lord is a God of knowledge.] Heb., Of knowledges; and he taketh cognizance of your pride and petulancy. See Malachi 3:13 Matthew 12:17 And by him actions are weighed,] i.e., Exactly examined, and their obliquities discovered and punished. Or, By him enterprises are established viz., if they be to his good liking, else not. The elephant, that largest of beasts, hath the smallest tongue; and nothing is said of his voice, to teach great men not to speak big words.

(3) A God of knowledge.—The Hebrew words are placed thus: A God of knowledge is the Lord, The Talmud quaintly comments here as follows:—Rabbi Ami says: “Knowledge is of great price, for it is placed between two Divine names; as it is written (1 Samuel 2:3), ‘A God of knowledge is the Lord,’ and therefore mercy is to be denied to him who has no knowledge; for it is written (Isaiah 27:11), ‘It is a people of no understanding, therefore He that made them will not have mercy on them.’”—Treatise Berachoth, fol. 33, Colossians 1. And by him actions are weighed.—This is one of the fifteen places reckoned by the Masorites where in the original Hebrew text, instead of “lo” with an aleph, signifying not, “lo” with a vaw, signifying to, or by him, must be substituted. The amended reading has been followed by the English Version. The meaning is that all men’s actions are weighed by God according to their essential worth, all the motives which led to them are by Him, the All-knowing, taken into account before He weighs them.

Verse 3. A God of knowledge] He is the most wise, teaching all good, and knowing all things. Actions are weighed] נתכנו nithkenu, they are directed; it is by his counsel alone that we can successfully begin, continue, or end, any work.

3. arrogancy] The old form of the word arrogance (cp. innocency for innocence) from the Lat. arrogantia. It signifies “claiming more than one’s due,” “assumption,” “pride.” knowledge] The Heb. word is plural, denoting varied and extensive knowledge. by him actions are weighed] Jehovah knows the hearts of men and estimates men’s actions at their true value. See Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 24:12. This explanation is probably right, but the Heb. may also be rendered, “His (i.e. God’s) actions are weighed,” or, “measured:” i.e. are just and right. Cp. the use of the same word in Ezekiel 18:25, “Is not my way equal?” “By him” is the Qrî or traditional read text. (See p. 14.) The Kthîbh or written text has “not” instead of “by him,” the words being similar in pronunciation though differently spelt. This may be rendered either, “though actions be not weighed,” or interrogatively, “and are not actions weighed?”

3. Arrogance… Impudence — Reference is here primarily to the haughty and impudent conduct of her adversary Peninnah, who had vexed her with taunting words. Chap. 1 Samuel 1:6.