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1 Samuel 2
Expanded Bible

Hannah Gives Thanks

2 Hannah prayed [L and said; C Hannah’s prayer is similar to Psalm 113 and Mary’s song in Luke 1:46–55]:

“·The Lord has filled my heart with joy [L My heart rejoices/exults in the Lord];
    ·I feel very strong in the Lord [My strength/L horn is exalted/lifted up in the Lord; C a lifted horn symbolizes strength, based on an animal lifting its head triumphantly]
·I can laugh at [L My mouth mocks/derides] my enemies;
    I ·am glad [rejoice/delight] because you have ·helped [saved; rescued; delivered] me!

2 “There is no one ·holy [set apart] like the Lord.
    There is no ·God but [one besides] you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 “·Don’t continue bragging [Talk/Boast no more so proudly/haughtily],
    ·don’t speak proud words [don’t let such arrogance come out of your mouth].
The Lord is a God who ·knows everything [is wise],
    and he ·judges [weighs] what people do.

4 “The bows of ·warriors [the mighty] ·break [are shattered],
    but ·weak people [L those who stumbled/tottered] ·become strong [L gird on strength].
5 Those who ·once had plenty of food [were well fed] now ·must work [hire themselves out] for ·food [bread],
    but people who were hungry ·are hungry no more [grow fat].
The woman who ·could not have children [was barren] now ·has [L gives birth to] seven,
    but the woman who had many children now ·is sad [L wastes away; languishes].

6 “The Lord ·sends death [kills],
    and he ·brings to [gives] life.
He ·sends people to the grave [brings down to Sheol; C the grave or the place of the dead],
    and he raises ·them to life again [L up].
7 The Lord makes some people poor,
    and others he makes rich.
He ·makes some people humble [brings low/down],
    and others he ·makes great [lifts up; exalts].
8 The Lord ·raises [lifts] the poor up from the dust,
    and he lifts the needy from the ·ashes [garbage heap].
He ·lets the poor sit [sets/seats the poor] with princes
    and ·receive [L they inherit] a throne of honor.

“The ·foundations [pillars] of the earth belong to the Lord,
    and the Lord ·set [poised] the world upon them.
9 He ·protects [L guards the feet/steps of] those who are ·loyal [faithful] to him,
    but ·evil people [the wicked] will ·be silenced [disappear] in darkness.
    ·Power is not the key to success [L For no one succeeds/prevails by strength alone].
10 The Lord ·destroys [shatters] ·his enemies [those who oppose/fight against him];
    he will thunder ·in [from] heaven against them.
The Lord will judge ·all [throughout; L the ends of] the earth.
    He will give ·power [strength] to his king
    and ·make his appointed king strong [L exalt the horn of his anointed/anointed one; 2:1].”

Eli’s Evil Sons

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah [1:1], but the boy ·continued to serve [ministered to/before] the Lord ·under [in the presence of] Eli the priest.

12 Now Eli’s sons were ·evil men [scoundrels; good-for-nothings]; they did not ·care about [know; respect; regard] the Lord. 13 ·This is what the priests would normally do to [… nor about their duties as priests for] the people: Every time someone ·brought [offered] a sacrifice, the meat would be ·cooked [L boiled] in a pot. The priest’s servant would then come carrying a fork that had three prongs. 14 He would plunge the fork into the pot or the kettle or cauldron or pan. Whatever the fork brought out of the pot belonged to the priest. But this is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh [1:3] to offer sacrifices. 15 Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come to the person offering sacrifices and say, “Give the priest some meat to roast. He won’t accept boiled meat from you, only raw meat.”

16 If the one who offered the sacrifice said, “Let the fat be burned up first as usual, and then take anything you want,” the priest’s servant would answer, “No, give me the meat now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

17 ·The Lord saw that [In the Lord’s sight] the sin of the servants was very ·great [serious] because they ·did not show respect for [treated with contempt; despised] the offerings ·made to [L of] the Lord.

Samuel Grows Up

18 But Samuel ·obeyed [L served; ministered before] the Lord. As a boy he wore a linen ·holy vest [ephod; C a special garment worn only by priests; Ex. 28:6–14]. 19 Every year his mother made a little ·coat [robe] for him and took it to him when she went with her husband to Shiloh [1:3] for the [annual] sacrifice. 20 When Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, he would say, “May the Lord ·repay you with [or give you] ·children [an heir; L seed] through Hannah ·to take the place of [in exchange for] the boy Hannah ·prayed for and gave back [dedicated] to the Lord.” Then Elkanah and Hannah would go home. 21 The Lord was ·kind to [gracious to; or visited] Hannah, so she ·became the mother of [L conceived and bore] three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up ·serving [in the presence of; before] the Lord.

22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all ·the Israelites [Israel] and how his sons ·had sexual relations [lay] with the women who served at the ·entrance [doorway] to the Meeting Tent. 23 Eli said to them, “Why do you do these evil things that the people tell me about? 24 No, my sons. The Lord’s people are spreading a bad report about you. 25 If you sin against someone, God can ·help [intercede/mediate/arbitrate for] you. But if you sin against the Lord himself, ·no one [who…?] can ·help [intercede/mediate/arbitrate for] you!” But Eli’s sons would not listen to ·him [L the voice/words/rebuke of their father], because the Lord ·had decided [desired; wanted] to put them to death.

26 The boy Samuel grew ·physically and pleased [in stature and in favor with] the Lord and the people.

27 A man of God [C a prophet] came to Eli and said, “·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: ‘·I [L Did I not…?] clearly showed myself to the ·family [L house] of your ·ancestor Aaron [father] when in Egypt they were slaves to ·the king of Egypt [L Pharaoh’s house]. 28 ·I chose [L Did I not choose…?] them from all the tribes of Israel to be my priests. I wanted them to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the ·holy vest [L ephod in my presence/before me]. ·I [L Did I not…?] also let the ·family [L house] of your ·ancestor [father] have ·part of all [all] the offerings by fire sacrificed by the Israelites. 29 So why ·don’t you respect [do you scorn/trample/look greedily at; L kick at] the sacrifices and ·gifts [offerings that I have commanded/prescribed]? You honor your sons ·more than [above] me. You ·grow fat [fatten yourselves] on the ·best [choicest] parts of the meat the Israelites bring to me.’

30 “So the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I promised that your ·family [L house] and your ·ancestor’s family [father’s house] would ·serve [minister/walk before] me always.’ But now the Lord says: ‘·This must stop [Far be it from me]! I will honor those who honor me, but I will ·dishonor [despise; have contempt for] those who ·ignore [disdain] me. 31 The ·time [day] is coming when I will ·destroy [L break/cut off the strength of] the ·descendants [L seed] of both you and your ·ancestors [L father’s house]. No ·man [one] will ·grow old [reach old age] in your family. 32 You will ·see trouble in my house. No matter what good things happen to Israel, [or watch with envy/distress/greedy eyes on all the prosperity I pour out on Israel. But] there will never be an old ·man [person] in your family [22:11–23]. 33 I will ·not totally cut off your family from my altar. But […keep one of you alive at my altar so that] your eyes will cry and your heart be sad, because all your descendants will die.

34 “‘·I will give you a [This will be your] sign. Both your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will die on the same day [4:1–22]. 35 Then I will ·choose [L raise up] a loyal priest ·for myself [or myself] who will ·listen to me and do what I want [act according to what is in my heart and soul/mind]. I will ·make his family continue [build him an enduring family/house], and he will always ·serve before [walk/go in and out before] my ·appointed king [anointed one; 1 Kin. 2:26–27]. 36 Then everyone left in your ·family [L house] will come and bow down before him. They will beg for a ·little money [piece of silver] or a ·little food [loaf of bread] and say, “Please give me ·a job as priest [some priestly duty/work] so I can ·have food to eat [eat a morsel of bread].”’”

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1 Samuel 2
New American Standard Bible

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

2 Then Hannah (A)prayed and said,

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
(B)My [a]horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth [b]speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because (C)I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 (D)There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, (E)there is no one besides You,
(F)Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 Do not go on [c]boasting so very proudly,
(G)Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
(H)For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
(I)And [d]with Him actions are weighed.
4 (J)The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces,
(K)But those who have stumbled strap on strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to be hungry.
(L)Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven,
But (M)she who has many children languishes.
6 (N)The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
(O)He brings down to [e]Sheol and brings up.
7 (P)The Lord makes poor and rich;
(Q)He humbles, He also exalts.
8 (R)He raises the poor from the dust,
(S)He lifts the needy from the garbage heap
(T)To seat them with nobles,
And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance;
(U)For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 (V)He watches over the feet of His godly ones,
(W)But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
(X)For not by might shall a person prevail.
10 (Y)Those who contend with the Lord will be terrified;
(Z)Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
(AA)The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
(AB)And He will give strength to His king,
(AC)And will exalt the [f]horn of His anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went to his home at (AD)Ramah. (AE)But the boy continued to attend to the service of the Lord before Eli the priest.

The Sin of Eli’s Sons

12 Now the sons of Eli were [g](AF)useless men; they did not know the Lord. 13 (AG)And this was the custom of the priests with the people: when anyone was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was cooking, with a three-pronged fork in his hand. 14 And he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; everything that the fork brought up, the priest would take for himself. They did so in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Also, before (AH)they [h]burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat for roasting, as he will not take cooked meat from you, only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “They must [i]burn the fat [j]first, then take as much as [k]you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you must give it to me now; and if not, I am taking it by force!” 17 And so the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for the men (AI)treated the offering of the Lord disrespectfully.

Samuel before the Lord as a Boy

18 Now (AJ)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy (AK)wearing a linen ephod. 19 And his mother would make for him a little (AL)robe and bring it up to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer (AM)the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would (AN)bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you [l]children from this woman in place of the [m]one she (AO)requested of the Lord.” And they went to their own [n]home.

21 [o](AP)The Lord indeed visited Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And (AQ)the boy Samuel grew up [p]before the Lord.

Eli Rebukes His Sons

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard about (AR)everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and that they slept with (AS)the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why are you doing such things as these, the evil things that I hear from all these people? 24 No, my sons; for the report is not good (AT)which I hear the Lord’s people circulating. 25 If one person sins against another, (AU)God will mediate for him; but (AV)if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the (AW)Lord desired to put them to death.

26 Now the boy (AX)Samuel was continuing to grow and to be in favor both with the Lord and with people.

27 Then (AY)a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘(AZ)Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house? 28 (BA)Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me? And did I not (BB)give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel? 29 Why are you [q](BC)showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering (BD)which I have commanded for My (BE)dwelling, and why are you (BF)honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the [r]choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’ 30 Therefore the Lord God of Israel declares, ‘(BG)I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever’; but now the Lord declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for (BH)those who honor Me I will honor, and those (BI)who despise Me will be insignificant. 31 Behold, (BJ)the days are coming when I will eliminate your [s]strength and the [t]strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 And you will look at (BK)the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that [u]I do for Israel; and there will never be an (BL)old man in your house. 33 Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar, [v]so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the [w]increase of your house will die [x]in the prime of life. 34 And this will be (BM)the sign to you which will come in regard to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: (BN)on the same day both of them will die. 35 But (BO)I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and (BP)I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before (BQ)My anointed always. 36 And everyone who is left in your house will come to bow down to him for a [y]silver coin or a loaf of bread and say, “Please [z]assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread.”’”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:1 I.e., strength
  2. 1 Samuel 2:1 Lit is enlarged
  3. 1 Samuel 2:3 Lit talk much
  4. 1 Samuel 2:3 Or disgraceful actions have no place
  5. 1 Samuel 2:6 I.e., the netherworld
  6. 1 Samuel 2:10 I.e., strength
  7. 1 Samuel 2:12 Lit sons of Belial
  8. 1 Samuel 2:15 Lit offered up in smoke
  9. 1 Samuel 2:16 Lit offer up in smoke
  10. 1 Samuel 2:16 Lit as the day
  11. 1 Samuel 2:16 Lit your soul desires
  12. 1 Samuel 2:20 Lit seed
  13. 1 Samuel 2:20 Lit request
  14. 1 Samuel 2:20 Lit place
  15. 1 Samuel 2:21 Or When the Lord visited...then she; DSS And the Lord visited
  16. 1 Samuel 2:21 Lit with
  17. 1 Samuel 2:29 Lit giving a kick to
  18. 1 Samuel 2:29 Or first
  19. 1 Samuel 2:31 Lit arm
  20. 1 Samuel 2:31 Lit arm
  21. 1 Samuel 2:32 Lit He does
  22. 1 Samuel 2:33 Lit to make your eyes fail and to grieve your soul
  23. 1 Samuel 2:33 I.e., new children
  24. 1 Samuel 2:33 Lit as men
  25. 1 Samuel 2:36 Or payment
  26. 1 Samuel 2:36 Lit attach
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