11 Then Elkanah went home (A)to Ramah. (B)And the boy[a] was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

Eli's Worthless Sons

12 Now the sons of Eli were (C)worthless men. (D)They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, (E)before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great (F)in the sight of the Lord, (G)for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

18 (H)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy (I)clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year (J)when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman (K)for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.

21 (L)Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. (M)And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.

Eli Rebukes His Sons

22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who (N)were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, (O)for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.

26 Now the boy Samuel (P)continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:11 Hebrew na‘ar can be rendered boy (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1, 8), servant (2:13, 15), or young man (2:17), depending on the context

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(A) but the boy ministered(B) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard(C) for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice(D) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat(E) was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat(F) be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they[a] were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.(G)

18 But Samuel was ministering(H) before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.(I) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual(J) sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed(K) for and gave to[b] the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah;(L) she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew(M) up in the presence of the Lord.

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything(N) his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women(O) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[c] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will(P) intercede(Q) for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow(R) in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text people
  2. 1 Samuel 2:20 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text and asked from
  3. 1 Samuel 2:25 Or the judges