1 Samuel 2:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:11-26

In these verses we have the good character and posture of Elkanah's family, and the bad character and posture of Eli's family. The account of these two is observably interwoven throughout this whole paragraph, as if the historian intended to set the one over against the other, that they might set off one another. The devotion and good order of Elkanah's family aggravated the iniquity of Eli's house; while the wickedness of Eli's sons made Samuel's early piety appear the more bright and... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 2:20

Eli blessed Elkanah - The natural place of this verse seems to be before the 11th; after which the 21st should come in; after the 21st, perhaps the 26th should come in. The subjects in this chapter seem very much entangled and confused by the wrong position of the verses. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

The Lord give thee seed, etc. The manner in which Eli blesses Elkanah shows that this surrender of a very young child to religious service was not looked upon as imposing a burden upon the sanctuary, but as the bestowal of a valued gift. Loan and lent by no means give the whole sense, which is in fact beyond the power of our language to express; for the Hebrew is remarkable for its manner of saying a great deal in a few words, by using them indefinitely. Besides the sense, then, of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

Solid character. The facts are— 1 . Eli forms a favourable estimate of the conduct and character of Elkanah and Hannah. 2 . God enriches them with several children. 3 . Samuel advances in years and gains in repute. 4 . The sons of Eli, becoming more dissolute, are rebuked by their father. Time had gradually brought out to the view of Eli the solid character of Elkanah and his wife. Their regular attendance on worship at the appointed seasons, and their reverent spirit, were... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

1 Samuel 2:20-21. Eli blessed Elkanah, &c. This benediction given in his character of high-priest, and that by a divine suggestion, was followed by the desired effect, and verified what Hannah had uttered in her prophetical song. The Lord visited Hannah None are losers by what they dedicate to the Lord, or employ in such a manner as is pleasing in his sight. The child Samuel grew Not only in age and stature, but especially in wisdom and goodness. Before the Lord Not only before... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:12-36

Judgment on the family of Eli (2:12-3:18)Eli the priest had become the judge, or chief administrator, in Israel. He sat at the door of the house of God where people could freely meet him to seek his advice or ask for directions in disputes (see 1:9; 4:18). His sons, it seems, carried out the routine work in connection with the sacrifices and ceremonies.According to the Levitical law, the portion of the sacrifice that was for God had to be burnt on the altar first, after which the priest and the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 2:20

loan which is lent = the great gift. Figure of speech Polyptoton, for emphasis. App-6 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 2:20

20. Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife—This blessing, like that which he had formerly pronounced, had a prophetic virtue; which, before long, appeared in the increase of Hannah's family (1 Samuel 2:21), and the growing qualifications of Samuel for the service of the sanctuary. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 2:11-36

B. The Contrast between Samuel and Eli’s Sons 2:11-36Samuel’s innocence and the godlessness of Eli’s sons contrast strongly in this pericope (section of text). Samuel would succeed and become a channel of God’s blessing. Eli’s sons would fail, would become a source of frustration to Eli and the Israelites, and would ultimately perish."The section [1 Samuel 2:11 to 1 Samuel 4:1] poignantly illustrates the theme of ’Hannah’s Song’ as it is epitomized in 1 Samuel 2:7 b, ’he brings low, and also... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:11-26

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 2:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 2:20-21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:12-36

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 2:20

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 2:20

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 2:11-36

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