1 Samuel 2

Hanna’s Song of Praise, wherein she proclaimeth the bountifulness of the Lord, both in general, and in speciall, ver.1,&c. Threatning the proud with utter ruine and destruction, 3. The obstinate wickedness of Elies sons is declared .12. And on the contrary is shewed, how well Samuel behaved himself in his Ministery, 18. Hanna beareth more children, 21. Eli rebuketh indeed his sons for their wicked deeds, but not with that severity, as he ought, 22. The Lord telleth Eli, by a Prophet, thathe and all his House should miserably perish, 21.

1. Then Hanna prayed, and said: Mine heart leapeth up for joy in the LORD, [To wit, forasmuch as he hath shewed me this great mercy, tha he hath given me this son] mine horn is exalted in the LORD [i.e. I have as it were received new strength from the Lord, I am now courageous and undanted. It is a similitude taken from horned beasts, who have their greatest strength, and likewise their ornament in their hornes: see Psal.92.11.] my mouth is opened against mine enemies, [as if he had said, Seeing the Lord hath given me this son, now I dare speak with open mouth against mine enemies, especially against Peninna, her children and friends, that upbraided me with my barrenness] for I rejoice in thy salvation. [that is, in happiness which thou hast conferred upon me, O Lord. Oth. for thou hast made me joyful with thy salvation.]

2. There is none holy like the LORD, for there is none beside thee, and there is no rock [The strong God is also called a Rock, Deut.32.15. and elsewhere] like our God. [i.e. there is none that a man may rely upon, but onely thou, O Lord God, Deut.32.4.]

3. Make it not too much, that thou shouldest speak lostily, lostily, [Hanna speaketh here unto Peninna (see above chap.1. ver.6,7.) likewise unto all proud presumptuous persons] that any hard thing [or, that which is old; that is, as heretofore ye were wont to do] should go forth out at your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledges, [i.e. of all, or great knowledge. Compare v.1,20. with the annotate.] and his deeds are rightly done [compare chap.18.25. Oth. the deeds, or, works, are ordered, or, weighed by him. Others thus, are (not) his works made right?]

4. The bowe of the strong is broken: [Heb, the bowes are broken. See the like change of number, Job 29:10. Oth. the strong (with) the bowe are broken] and they that stumbled [to wit, as well out of weakness of body, as out of pusillanimity] are girt about with strength.

5. They that were satisfied, have hired out themselves for bread, [i.e. They are grown so poor, that they have been sain to hire out themselves, to get viciuals] and they that were hungry [compare Job 18. on verse 12.] are not so more, [Heb. have ceased; viz. to be, or to be hungry] until the burden hath born seven [i.e. many, as Ruth.4.15. see below v.21.] and she that had many children is wixen feeble. [viz. to conceive and hear children.]

6. The LORD killeth, [i.e. He feedeth people great troubles and afflictions, which may be resembled to death] and maketh alive: [i.e. he delivereth again the afflicted and sorrowful out of their trouble and distress] he causeth to descend into hell, [i.e. he bringeth into the uttermist shame and disgrace, see Gen.3. on v.7.] and he causeth to ascend (again)

7. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich, he humbleth, he also exalteth.

8. He lifteth up the mean (one) out of the dust, (and) him that is in need he exalteth from the mire, [Or, from the dunghill] to make (them) sit among the Princes, that he may make them inherit the seat of honour; for the foundations of the earth are the LORD’S and he hath set the world upon them.

9. He will keep the feet of his favourites, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness: [Or, shall be destroyed, (and cast into darkness] for a man prevaileth not by strength.

10. They that contend with the LORD, shall be broken to pieces; he shall thunder in heaven upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, [i.e. Even those that are in the uttermost ends of the world] and shall give strength unto his King, [viz, unto Christ, whom he hath ordained, and whom at the time appointed he will send] and exalt the horn of his anointed. [i.e. Christ, see Psa.2.2.]

11. Afterward Elkana went unto Rama into his house, but the youth did minister unto the LORD before the face of Eli the Priest.

12. But the sons of Eli were children of Belial: [See Deut.13. v.13.] they knew not the LORd.

13. For the manner [Heb Misphat, the right, which word signifieth sometimes a custome or use, not only a good and laudable, but also a bad and blameable use or custome] of those Priests with the people was, that (when) any man offered [i.e. brought to be offered or sacrificed. So vers.15.] an offering, the Priests boy came, while the flesh was boyling, with a three-toothed flesh-hook in his hand.

14. And strook into the dish, or into the kettle, or into the pan, or into the pot, al that the flesh-hook drew up, [God had given the Priests for their food certain pieces, or parts of the beasts that were offered: viz. the brest and the right shoulder, Exod.29.27,28. and Levit.7.21,32,33. but they might not take what they pleased, or what the fork gave there: also the portion that belonged to the Priest must first be heaved up waved before the Lord, Lev.7.34.] that the Priest took for himself: [Or, therewith, viz. with the flesh-hook] so they did at Silo unto all the Israelities [Heb. all Israel] that came thither.

15. Also before they burnt the fat, [See Levit.3.3,&c.] came the Priests boy, and said unto the man, that offered, give that flesh to rost for the Priest: for he will take no sodden flesh of thee, [yet the Priest took also sodden flesh, as appeareth, vers.13.] but raw. [Heb. alive, here is intimated that he rather had raw flesh, then boiled or sodden.]

16. When now that man said unto him, they will as to day wholly burn [Heb. burning burn] that fat; therefore take for thy self, as thy soul shall desire: then he said unto him, Now shalt thou surely give it, and if not, I will take it by force.

17. So the sin of these young men [viz. of the sons of Eli] was very great before the face of the LORD: for the people despised the meat-offering of the LORD. [Intimating that when the people saw how seriously the sons of Eli abused the Sacrifices to their own pleasure, and voluptuousness, they thereby got a loathing of the worship and service of God, so that they caught no more meat-offerings unto the Lord.]

18. But Samuel ministred before the face of the LORD, being a young-man, girt about with a linen upper garment. [Heb. Ephod. Compare 2 Sam.6.14.]

19. And his mother made him a little coat, and brought it him from year to year [Heb. from dayes to dayes] when she came up with her husband, to offer the yearly offering, [Heb. the offering of dayes.]

20. And Eli blessed Elkana and his wife [that is, He as High Priest wished them much joy] saying, The LORD give thee seed [i.e. children] of this woman, for the petition [i.e. for the petitioned son, who is now also dedicated and given unto God] which she [Heb. he. See the like change of the feminine and masculine gender, Genes.6.1. Exod.31.14. Levit.2.8. I Sam.25.27. 2 Kings 3:26. Hos.14.7. Ruth 1:8,9,11,19,22.] hath petitioned of the LORD: [Oth. which hath been petitioned of the LORD, or, which hath been asked, or, desired before the LORD. It is as if he had said, She hath not begged or asked this son of the Lord for herself, or for her own benefit; but that she might dedicate him unto the Lord, ho his ministery] and they went unto his place, [viz. unto Elkana’s place]

21. For the LORD visited Hanna, [Confirming the blessing of Eli, which they confided, that the Lord would accomplish] and she conceived, and bare three sons, and two daughters, [The meaning is, a several births] and the lad Samuel waxed great [Understand this of the increase or growth of the body in bigness and stature, and of the soul in wisdom and knowledge. See Luke 1:80. and 2.40,52.] by the LORD. [Oth. before, or, with the Lord.]

22. But Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and that they lay with the women, that assembled in heaps; [See the annot. on Exod.38.8.] at the door of the Tent [i.e. before the Tent, for unto the Tent they might not come] of the congregation.

23. And he said unto them, why do ye such things, that I hear (of) these your wicked deeds by all this people?

24. Not my sons: [i.e. It becometh you not to deal so] for this is no good report, that I hear, ye make the LORDS people to transgresse, [viz. ye command concerning sacrifice. See above vers.17.]

25. When a man sinneth against a man, then the gods [Oth. the Magistrate, the Judges. See Exod.21.6. and the annot. there] shall judge him, but when a man sinneth [viz. wilfully and presumptuously] against the LORD, who shall pray for him? But they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, for the LORD would slay them. [Therefore the Lord gave them not grace to repent, but he did more and more forsake them, and gave them in his justice over to a reprobate minde to their own ruin and destruction.]

26. And the lad Samuel increased, [Heb. went. Compare Genes.26.13. with the annotate.] and grew great and acceptable [Heb. good] both with the LORD, and also with men.

27. And there came a man of God [i.e. a Prophet of the Lord, as 2 Pet.1.21. I Tim.6.11. and 2 Tim.3.17. Who this Prophet was is unknown unto us. See the anno. Judg.13. on vers.6.] unto Eli, and said unto him, (thus saith the Lord) have I not clearly revealed myself [Or, am I not, &c. Heb. revealing revealed] unto the house of thy father, [viz. Aaron, of whom Eli descended by Ithamar] when they [viz. the children of Israel] were in Egypt, in the house of Pharao, [i.e. when they were yet under the Dominion and Tyannie of Pharao.]

28. And I did chuse him [viz. Aaron] out of all the tribes of Israel to (be) Priest unto me, to offer upon mine Altar, to burn incense, to wear the Ephod before my face: and did give unto the house of thy father all the fire-offerings. [Meaning all the parts of the beasts, which in the Sacrifices were not to be burnt upon the Altar. See Levit.7.34. and Numb.18.18.] of the children of Israel.

29. Why kick ye [viz. thou Eli, and thy sons] against my slay-offering, and my meat-offering, which I commanded in the habitation? [i.e. the Tabernacle, which was Gods habitation] and honourest thy sons more then me, [bearing more respect unto them, then unto me; for thou durst not provoke them, nor soundly reprove them, much lesse punish them as thou oughtest to do, or to remove them from the Priest-hood, as their wicked practises have justly deserved] that ye [viz. thou Eli, as well as thy sons] fallen your selves with the chiefest of all meat-offerings of my people Israel.

30. Therefore speaketh the LORD the God of Israel, I had [To wit, when I instituted the Priestly office in thy fathers house] indeed clearly said, [Heb. I had saying said] Thy house and thy fathers house should walk before my face [i.e. execute the Priestly office,] for ever: [viz. if they should walk in my commandments] but now speaketh the LORD, Be far from me. [viz. by reason of your disobedience] for they that honour me, will I honour, and they that despise me, shall lightly be esteemed. [Heb. shall become light.]

31. Behold the dayes come, that I will cut off thine arm, [That is, I will deprive thee of thy strength: to wit of thy children and the Priestly office: for when the High-Priest-hood was taken away from Eli, and his, they had no strength or power at all. See below vers.36. Psal.37.17. and in other places, more] and the Arm of thy fathers house: that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

32. And thou shalt behold the distresse of the habitation (of God) [i.e. of the carrying away of the Ark out of the Tabernacle, or habitation, the slaughter of the Israelites, and the captivity of the Ark. See below chap.4. vers.11. Oth. Thou shalt see an adversary in the habitation. Thou, that is, thy posterity (for Eli continued Priest all his life-time) but afterward shall another (thine, as being excluded) be placed in their stead. See I Kings 2.27.] instead of all the good that he should have done unto Israel: [Oth. in all things wherein he should have done unto Israel] and there shall at no day be an old man in thine house.

33. But the man [viz. he that shall continue in the service or ministery at the Altar] whom I shall not cut off unto thee [i.e. of thine] from mine Altar, should be to consume thine eyes, [i.e. if thou shouldst then yet live, and shouldst see all these things, thou wouldst weep out thine eyes. This may be understood of the miserable murdering of the Priests at Nob, I Sam.22.18. or also of the shameful deposing of Abiathar, I Kings 2.26. whereunto the first words of this verse do well agree] and to grieve thy soul: and all [i.e. almost all] the multitude of thine house shall die, being grown men. [i.e. in the flower of their age.]

34. Now this shall be a token unto thee, which shall come upon both thy sons, upon Hophni and Pinehas: they shall both die in one day. [See the accomplishment hereof below chap 4.11.]

35. And I will raise me up a faithful Pries, [viz. Zadok, who was of the family of Eleazar. See the accomplishment, I Chro.29.22.] who shall do according to that which shall be in mine heart, and in my soul: [i.e. as it pleaseth me] him will I build a stedfast-house, [Heb. a faithful house. In Zadoks family did the High-Priest-hood continue a long while, according to that which God promised unto Pinehas the son of Eleazar, Numb.25.13.] and be [Meaning, be, and his posterity] shall alwayes [Heb. all the dayes, to wit, of his life] walk [i.e. administer; or execute the Priestly office, as vers.30.] before the face of mine anointed. [i.e. before the King, whom I shall chuse, who also shall be a type of Christ, whom I have anointed King over Zion my mine holy mountain.]

36. And it shall come to pass, that all that shall be left of thine house, shall come, [See the fulfilling I Kings 2.26. and 2 Kings 23:9. See also tokens or evidences hereof, Ezech.44.14.] to how down before him [viz. before Zadok, and his posterity] for a piece of money, and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Assure me, I pray thee, into a Priestly function, that I may eat a morset of bread.