Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

2 Hannah prayed:^(A)

¹¹ Elkanah went home to Ramah,^(AB) but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.^(AC)

Eli’s Family Judged

¹² Eli’s sons were wicked men;^(AD) they did not respect the Lord^{(AE) 13} or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling ¹⁴ and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot.^(AF) The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. ¹⁵ Even before the fat was burned,^(AG) the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” ¹⁶ If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,”^(AH) the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” ¹⁷ So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.^(AI)

¹⁸ Samuel served in the Lord’s presence^(AJ)—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.^{(AK) 19} Each year his mother made him a little robe^(AL) and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.^{(AM) 20} Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife:^(AN) “May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she^[e] has given to the Lord.”^(AO) Then they would go home.

²¹ The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need,^(AP) and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.^(AQ)

²² Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel^(AR) and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(AS) 23} He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. ²⁴ No, my sons, the news I hear the Lord’s people spreading is not good. ²⁵ If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” ^(AT) But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.^{(AU) 26} By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.^(AV)

²⁷ A man of God came to Eli and said to him,^(AW) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family^[f] when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?^{(AX) 28} Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house^[g] to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence.^(AY) I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. ²⁹ Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?^(AZ) You have honored your sons more than me,^(BA) by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

³⁰ “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.^(BB) But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor,^(BC) but those who despise me will be disgraced.^{(BD) 31} Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.^{(BE) 32} You will see distress in the place of worship,^(BF) in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.^{(BG) 33} Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief^[h] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.^{[i][j] 34} This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:^(BH) both of them will die on the same day.^(BI)

³⁵ “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest^(BJ) for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,^(BK) and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.^{(BL) 36} Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”