As thy soul liveth - This oath is unique to the Books of Samuel, in which it occurs six times, and to the Books of Kings, in which however, it is found only once. See the note to 1 Samuel 1:11. read more
1 Samuel 1:24. With three bullocks, &c. As they were not to appear before the Lord empty, so upon this occasion they brought an ample offering to him, to testify their gratitude. And it is highly probable that one of these bullocks was wholly offered to God as a burnt-offering, and the other two were peace-offerings; or, as some rather think, one a sin-offering, and the other a peace-offering. One ephah of flour For the meat or meal- offerings, which to each bullock were three ... read more
1 Samuel 1:25-27. They slew a bullock The three bullocks mentioned 1 Samuel 1:22, the singular number being put for the plural, which is frequent. As thy soul liveth As surely as thou livest. Which asseveration she thought necessary, because this was some years after the fact which she here mentions. For this child I prayed She had told him nothing of what she prayed for when he reproved her; but only, in general, that she was extremely afflicted for want of something, which she then... read more
1 Samuel 1:28 . Therefore I have lent him to the Lord But not with a purpose to require him again. Whatever we give to the Lord may, upon this account, be said to be lent to him, because, though we may not recall it, yet he will certainly repay it to our unspeakable advantage. As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord Or, as the words may be properly translated, All the days that he shall be desired for the Lord; that is, as long as God shall think fit to employ him in his... read more
1:1-7:17 ISRAEL UNDER ELI AND UNDER SAMUELBirth of Samuel (1:1-2:11)Elkanah was a Levite who lived in the tribal territory of Ephraim (1:1; 1 Chronicles 6:33-38). Each year he took his family to the town of Shiloh to offer sacrifices to the Lord. (Since the time of Joshua, Shiloh had been the central place of worship in Israel; Joshua 18:1,Joshua 18:10; Judges 18:31.) According to the regulations for certain sacrifices, the offerer, after offering his sacrifice, received back some of the... read more
weaned . From 2 Macc. 7.27 it has been inferred that the time of weaning included the periods of nourishment and up-bringing, which would bring Samuel to the age of at least twelve years. Compare Isaac's weaning at the age of five years, and see Genesis 21:8 . three bullocks. Septuagint and Syriac read "a bullock of three years". Compare 1 Samuel 1:25 , and Genesis 15:9 . ephah . See App-51 . a bottle = a skin bottle. and the child was young. Hebrew vehannar na ' ar. Figure of speech ... read more
thy soul = thyself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . read more
the LORD = Jehovah. Punctuate thus, "to Jehovah as long as he liveth. He shall be", &c. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) in verses: 1 Samuel 1:27-28 . "Jehovah hath given me my petition (sh e 'elathi) which I asked of Him (sha'alti): therefore also I have lent him (hishiltihu) to Jehovah. " read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 1:28
I have lent him. The word lent spoils the meaning: Hannah really in these two verses uses the same verb four times, though in different conjugations, and the same sense must be maintained throughout. Her words are, "For this child I prayed, and Jehovah hath given me my asking which I asked of him: and I also have given back what was asked to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is asked for Jehovah." The conjugation translated to give back what was asked literally means to make to... read more