1 Samuel 2:12-36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:20

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife ,.... Not only the first time they brought Samuel to him, and left him with him; but every year they came to worship, as the Jewish commentators mostly interpret it: and said, the Lord give thee seed of this woman ; children by her, year after year: for the loan which is lent to the Lord ; instead of Samuel, who was asked of the Lord and given to him again; and as they were thereby in some measure deprived of him, and could not always enjoy him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:21

And the Lord visited Hannah ,.... In a way of mercy, approving and confirming the blessing of Eli; or rather granting the blessing he prayed for, by giving her power to conceive, bear, and bring forth children, as the following words explain it: so that she conceived and bare three sons and two daughters ; whereby the prophecy of Hannah was fulfilled, 1 Samuel 2:5 , and was no doubt matter of great joy to her, though of these children we nowhere else read, nor even of their names.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:22

Now Eli was very old ,.... It is very probable he was now about ninety years of age, since when he died he was ninety eight, 1 Samuel 4:15 which is observed to show his incapacity for the discharge of his office, and inspection into public affairs; which gave his sons opportunity of acting the wicked part they did without reproof, and with impunity, Eli knowing nothing of it; and accounts in some measure for the gentle reproof he gave them, when he did know of it; for being old, he was not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:23

And he said unto them, why do ye such things ?.... As to impose upon the people that bring their offerings, by taking more than is due, and in a very indecent and imperious manner; and especially to defile the women when they came to worship: these were very scandalous sins, and deserved a more severe reprimand, and indeed a greater chastisement than by mere words; Eli should have rebuked them more sharply, and laid open the evil of their doings, and as a judge punished them for them: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:24

Nay, my sons ,.... This seems to be too soft and smooth an appellation, too kind and endearing, considering the offence they were guilty of, and were now reproving for; rather they deserved to be called sons of Belial, the children of the devil, than sons of Eli, or brutes and shameless wretches, and such like hard names: for it is no good report that I hear ; a very bad one; far from being good, scarce anything worse could have been said of them; to rob persons of the flesh of their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:25

If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him , &c.; When one man does an injury to another in his person and property, the case is brought before the judge, he hears it, examines into it, and determines upon it, and does justice, orders that the injured person have satisfaction made him, and so the matter is ended: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him ? all sin is in some sense against God, as it is contrary to his nature, and a breach of his law,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:26

And the child Samuel grew up ,.... Increased in stature and in grace, grew more and more in all respects, and better and better, while Eli's sons grew worse and worse; the contrast between these make the one to shine and appear illustrious, and the other to look the blacker: or "he went on, and grew, and was good" F26 הלך וגדל וטוב "ambulans, et grandescens et bonus", Montanus; so Vatablus & Drusius. ; as he proceeded on in years, and grew in stature, he appeared more and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:27

And there came a man of God unto Eli ,.... A prophet, as the Targum; he had gifts and graces bestowed on him by the Lord, qualifying him for that office; he came from God, and spoke in his name, as prophets used to do: who this was is not said, nor can it be known with certainty; many conjectures are made; some think he might he Phinehas, as Ben Gersom and Abarbinel F1 Judaei apud Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 75. A. , which is not at all likely; it is not probable that he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:28

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest ,.... He did; of all the tribes of Israel the Lord chose the tribe of Levi to place the priesthood in, and of all the families of that tribe he chose the house of Aaron, Eli's ancestor, to minister in the priest's office, see Exodus 28:1 . to offer upon mine altar ; burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings; this is the altar of burnt offering, which stood in the court of the tabernacle: to burn incense ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:29

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation ,.... To be offered in the tabernacle, where the Lord had his dwelling; which they might be said to kick and spurn at, despising them, as if there were not enough of them, nor the best of them given to them for their maintenance; a metaphor taken from cattle well fed and fat, which kick and spurn with their feet at even the owners and feeders of them. The Targum is,"why do ye use force with the... read more

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