1 Samuel 2:18 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 2:18

But Samuel ministered before the Lord ,.... The ministration of Samuel, though a child, is observed both before and after the account of the ill behaviour and wickedness of Eli's sons; partly to the shame and disgrace of them, and as serving to aggravate their sin, and make it appear the more black and heinous; and partly to his honour and reputation, that he was not corrupted and turned aside from God by their evil practices. The phrase here used is different from that in 1 Samuel 2:11 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 2:18

Girded with a linen ephod - This the Targum translates דבוץ כרדוט אסיר asir cardut debuts , "Girded with a cardit of byssus, or fine linen." The word cardut they seem to have borrowed from the Greek χειριδωτος , a tunic, having χειριδας , i.e., sleeves that came down to, or covered, the hands. This was esteemed an effeminate garment among the Romans. See Buxtorf's Talmudic Lexicon. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:11-19

Degenerate sons. The facts given are— 1 . Eli's sons manifest their extreme wickedness by profaning the worship of God. 2 . As a consequence, a grievous scandal is caused, and Divine worship comes into disrepute. 3 . In spite of many evil surroundings, Samuel grows up in the blameless discharge of religious duties. 4 . Hannah continues to visit and take a deep interest in her son's spiritual life. The sorrowful experience of Eli in old age is sometimes repeated in modern... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 2:18

But Samuel ministered. While the misconduct of Eli's sons was thus bringing religion into contempt, and sapping the nation's morals, Samuel was advancing in years and piety, and was gaining that education which made him fit to retrieve the evil of their doings. He is still styled na'ar, a boy; for the word, according to the Rabbins, may be used up to fifteen years ( 1 Samuel 1:24 ). In the sense of servant there is no limit of age; and as it is the word translated "young men" in 1... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 2:18

Girded with a linen ephod - This was the usual dress of the priests. It does not appear whether Levites wore an ephod properly. Possibly it was a mark of Samuel’s special dedication to the Lord’s service that he wore one. (See the marginal reference). The ephod was sometimes used as an idolatrous implement Judges 8:27. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 2:18

1 Samuel 2:18. But Samuel ministered before the Lord Though he was very young, yet he carefully and faithfully performed such offices in God’s tabernacle as he was capable of discharging, and did not follow the bad example of others. Girded with a linen ephod A garment used in God’s service, and allowed, not only to the inferior priests and Levites, but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though not a priest, was both a Levite and a Nazarite from his... 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 2:18

a linen ephod . Not the High Priest's, but a simple linen robe of the ordinary priests and Levites and others. Samaritan Pentateuch 1 Samuel 22:18 . 2 Samuel 6:14 , Compare Exodus 28:42 .Leviticus 6:10 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 2:18

1 Samuel 2:18. Girded with a linen ephod— As the birth, appointment, and ministry of Samuel were extraordinary, he was therefore indulged with an extraordinary dress. Schachus conjectures, that from hence was derived the latin clavus among the Romans, which was a vestment peculiar to their senators and presidents. It was brought by Tullus Hostilius from the Etruscans when he conquered them, whose ancient language agrees so much with the Hebrew, that we may easily believe they derived many... read more