Samuel Grows Up

¹⁸ But Samuel ·obeyed [^Lserved; ministered before] the Lord. As a boy he wore a linen ·holy vest [ephod; ^Ca 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; ^Lseed] 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.

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