¹⁸ But Samuel was ministering^(A) before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.^(B)

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered^(A) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;^(B) there were not many visions.^(C)

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

⁴ These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece,^(A) an ephod,^(B) a robe,^(C) a woven tunic,^(D) a turban^(E) and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.

¹⁴ Wearing a linen ephod,^(A) David was dancing^(B) before the Lord with all his might,

¹⁸ The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”^(A) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.^(B)

²⁷ Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.^(A)

²⁸ I chose^(A) your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,^(B) and to wear an ephod^(C) in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings^(D) presented by the Israelites.

⁷ He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him.^(A)