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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 2:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 2:11	Strong Concordance	And Elkanah [0511] went [03212] to Ramah [07414] to his house [01004]. And the child [05288] did [01961] minister [08334] unto the LORD [03068] before [06440] Eli [05941] the priest [03548].
	King James	And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest--He must have been engaged in some occupation suited to his tender age, as in playing upon the cymbals, or other instruments of music; in lighting the lamps, or similar easy and interesting services.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest--He must have been engaged in some occupation suited to his tender age, as in playing upon the cymbals, or other instruments of music; in lighting the lamps, or similar easy and interesting services.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The word "minister" is used in three senses in Scripture: (1) of the service or ministration of both priests and Levites rendered unto the Lord Exo 28:35, Exo 28:43 : (2) of the ministrations of the Levites as rendered to the priests, to aid them in divine Service Num 3:6 : (3) of any service or ministration, especially one rendered to a man of God, as that of Joshua to Moses Num 11:28. The application of it to Samuel as ministering to the Lord before Eli the priest accords "most exactly" with Samuel's condition as a Levite.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Samuel the servant of the Lord under Eli. Ungodliness of the sons of Eli. - Sa1 2:11 forms the transition to what follows. After Hannah's psalm of thanksgiving, Elkanah went back with his family to his home at Ramah, and the boy (Samuel) was serving, i.e., ministered to the Lord, in the presence of Eli the priest. The fact that nothing is said about Elkanah's wives going with him, does not warrant the interpretation given by Thenius, that Elkanah went home alone. It was taken for granted that his wives went with him, according to Sa1 1:21 ("all his house"). את־יחוה שׁרת, which signifies literally, both here and in Sa1 3:1, to serve the Lord, and which is used interchangeably with יי את־פּני שׁרת (Sa1 2:18), to serve in the presence of the Lord, is used to denote the duties performed both by priests and Levites in connection with the worship of God, in which Samuel took part, as he grew up, under the superintendence of Eli and according to his instruction. Sa1 2:12 But Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas (Sa1 2:34), were בליּעל בּני, worthless fellows, and knew not the Lord, sc., as He should be known, i.e., did not fear Him, or trouble themselves about Him (vid., Job 18:21; Hos 8:2; Hos 13:4). Sa1 2:13-14 "And the right of the priests towards the people was (the following)." Mishpat signifies the right which they had usurped to themselves in relation to the people. "If any one brought a sacrifice (זבח זבח כּל־אישׁ is placed first, and construed absolutely: 'as for every one who brought a slain-offering'), the priest's servant (lit. young man) came while the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and thrust into the kettle, or pot, or bowl, or saucepan. All that the fork brought up the priest took. This they did to all the Israelites who came thither to Shiloh." Sa1 2:15-16 They did still worse. "Even before the fat was consumed," i.e., before the fat portions of the sacrifice had been placed in the altar-fire for the Lord (Lev 3:3-5), the priest's servant came and demanded flesh of the person sacrificing, to be roasted for the priest; "for he will not take boiled flesh of thee, but only חי, raw, i.e., fresh meat." And if the person sacrificing replied, "They will burn the fat directly (lit. 'at this time,' as in Gen 25:31; Kg1 22:5), then take for thyself, as thy soul desireth," he said, "No (לו for לא), but thou shalt give now; if not, I take by force." These abuses were practised by the priests in connection with the thank-offerings, with which a sacrificial meal was associated. Of these offerings, with which a sacrificial meal was associated. Of these offerings, the portion which legally fell to the priest as his share was the heave-leg and wave-breast. And this he was to receive after the fat portions of the sacrifice had been burned upon the altar (see Lev 7:30-34). To take the flesh of the sacrificial animal and roast it before this offering had been made, was a crime which was equivalent to a robbery of God, and is therefore referred to here with the emphatic particle גּם, as being the worst crime that the sons of Eli committed. Moreover, the priests could not claim any of the flesh which the offerer of the sacrifice boiled for the sacrificial meal, after burning the fat portions upon the altar and giving up the portions which belonged to them, to say nothing of their taking it forcibly out of the pots while it was being boiled. Sa1 2:17 Such conduct as this on the part of the young men (the priests' servants), was a great sin in the sight of the Lord, as they thereby brought the sacrifice of the Lord into contempt. נאץ, causative, to bring into contempt, furnish occasion for blaspheming (as in Sa2 12:14). "The robbery which they committed was a small sin in comparison with the contempt of the sacrifices themselves, which they were the means of spreading among the people" (O. v. Gerlach). Minchah does not refer here to the meat-offering as the accompaniment to the slain-offerings, but to the sacrificial offering generally, as a gift presented for the Lord.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Samuel the servant of the Lord under Eli. Ungodliness of the sons of Eli. - Sa1 2:11 forms the transition to what follows. After Hannah's psalm of thanksgiving, Elkanah went back with his family to his home at Ramah, and the boy (Samuel) was serving, i.e., ministered to the Lord, in the presence of Eli the priest. The fact that nothing is said about Elkanah's wives going with him, does not warrant the interpretation given by Thenius, that Elkanah went home alone. It was taken for granted that his wives went with him, according to Sa1 1:21 ("all his house"). את־יחוה שׁרת, which signifies literally, both here and in Sa1 3:1, to serve the Lord, and which is used interchangeably with יי את־פּני שׁרת (Sa1 2:18), to serve in the presence of the Lord, is used to denote the duties performed both by priests and Levites in connection with the worship of God, in which Samuel took part, as he grew up, under the superintendence of Eli and according to his instruction.

Sa1 2:12

But Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas (Sa1 2:34), were בליּעל בּני, worthless fellows, and knew not the Lord, sc., as He should be known, i.e., did not fear Him, or trouble themselves about Him (vid., Job 18:21; Hos 8:2; Hos 13:4).

Sa1 2:13-14

"And the right of the priests towards the people was (the following)." Mishpat signifies the right which they had usurped to themselves in relation to the people. "If any one brought a sacrifice (זבח זבח כּל־אישׁ is placed first, and construed absolutely: 'as for every one who brought a slain-offering'), the priest's servant (lit. young man) came while the flesh was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and thrust into the kettle, or pot, or bowl, or saucepan. All that the fork brought up the priest took. This they did to all the Israelites who came thither to Shiloh."

Sa1 2:15-16

They did still worse. "Even before the fat was consumed," i.e., before the fat portions of the sacrifice had been placed in the altar-fire for the Lord (Lev 3:3-5), the priest's servant came and demanded flesh of the person sacrificing, to be roasted for the priest; "for he will not take boiled flesh of thee, but only חי, raw, i.e., fresh meat." And if the person sacrificing replied, "They will burn the fat directly (lit. 'at this time,' as in Gen 25:31; Kg1 22:5), then take for thyself, as thy soul desireth," he said, "No (לו for לא), but thou shalt give now; if not, I take by force." These abuses were practised by the priests in connection with the thank-offerings, with which a sacrificial meal was associated. Of these offerings, with which a sacrificial meal was associated. Of these offerings, the portion which legally fell to the priest as his share was the heave-leg and wave-breast. And this he was to receive after the fat portions of the sacrifice had been burned upon the altar (see Lev 7:30-34). To take the flesh of the sacrificial animal and roast it before this offering had been made, was a crime which was equivalent to a robbery of God, and is therefore referred to here with the emphatic particle גּם, as being the worst crime that the sons of Eli committed. Moreover, the priests could not claim any of the flesh which the offerer of the sacrifice boiled for the sacrificial meal, after burning the fat portions upon the altar and giving up the portions which belonged to them, to say nothing of their taking it forcibly out of the pots while it was being boiled.

Sa1 2:17

Such conduct as this on the part of the young men (the priests' servants), was a great sin in the sight of the Lord, as they thereby brought the sacrifice of the Lord into contempt. נאץ, causative, to bring into contempt, furnish occasion for blaspheming (as in Sa2 12:14). "The robbery which they committed was a small sin in comparison with the contempt of the sacrifices themselves, which they were the means of spreading among the people" (O. v. Gerlach). Minchah does not refer here to the meat-offering as the accompaniment to the slain-offerings, but to the sacrificial offering generally, as a gift presented for the Lord.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Minster - In some way agreeable to his tender years, as in singing, or playing upon instruments of musick, or lighting the lamps. Before Eli the priest - That is, under the inspection, and by the direction of Eli.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And Elkanah went to Ramah - Immediately after the 10th verse, the Septuagint add, Και κατελιπεν αυτον εκει ενωπιον Κυριου· και απηλθεν εις Αραματαια, And she left him there before the Lord, and went unto Arimathea. Thus the Septuagint suppose that the song of Hannah was composed when she brought Samuel to present him to the Lord; and as soon as she had completed this fine ode, she delivered him into the hands of Eli the high priest, and the child entered immediately on his ministration, under the direction and instructions of Eli.

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²⁸ And Joshua [03091] the son [01121] of Nun [05126], the servant [08334] of Moses [04872], one of his young men [0979], answered [06030] and said [0559], My lord [0113] Moses [04872], forbid [03607] them.

⁶ Bring [07126] the tribe [04294] of Levi [03878] near [07126], and present [05975] them before [06440] Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], that they may minister [08334] unto him.

⁴³ And they shall be upon Aaron [0175], and upon his sons [01121], when they come [0935] in unto the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], or when they come near [05066] unto the altar [04196] to minister [08334] in the holy [06944] place; that they bear [05375] not iniquity [05771], and die [04191]: it shall be a statute [02708] for ever [05769] unto him and his seed [02233] after [0310] him.

³⁵ And it shall be upon Aaron [0175] to minister [08334]: and his sound [06963] shall be heard [08085] when he goeth [0935] in unto the holy [06944] place before [06440] the LORD [03068], and when he cometh [03318] out, that he die [04191] not.

¹⁴ Howbeit [0657], because by this deed [01697] thou hast given [05006] great occasion [05006] to the enemies [0341] of the LORD [03068] to blaspheme [05006], the child [01121] also that is born [03209] unto thee shall surely [04191] die [04191].

¹⁷ Wherefore the sin [02403] of the young men [05288] was very [03966] great [01419] before [06440] the LORD [03068]: for men [0582] abhorred [05006] the offering [04503] of the LORD [03068].

³⁰ His own hands [03027] shall bring [0935] the offerings [0801] of the LORD [03068] made by fire [0801], the fat [02459] with the breast [02373], it shall he bring [0935], that the breast [02373] may be waved [05130] for a wave offering [08573] before [06440] the LORD [03068].
³¹ And the priest [03548] shall burn [06999] the fat [02459] upon the altar [04196]: but the breast [02373] shall be Aaron's [0175] and his sons [01121]'.
³² And the right [03225] shoulder [07785] shall ye give [05414] unto the priest [03548] for an heave offering [08641] of the sacrifices [02077] of your peace offerings [08002].
³³ He among the sons [01121] of Aaron [0175], that offereth [07126] the blood [01818] of the peace offerings [08002], and the fat [02459], shall have the right [03225] shoulder [07785] for his part [04490].
³⁴ For the wave [08573] breast [02373] and the heave [08641] shoulder [07785] have I taken [03947] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] from off the sacrifices [02077] of their peace offerings [08002], and have given [05414] them unto Aaron [0175] the priest [03548] and unto his sons [01121] by a statute [02706] for ever [05769] from among the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

⁵ And Jehoshaphat [03092] said [0559] unto the king [04428] of Israel [03478], Enquire [01875], I pray thee, at the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] to day [03117].

³¹ And Jacob [03290] said [0559], Sell [04376] me this day [03117] thy birthright [01062].

³ And he shall offer [07126] of the sacrifice [02077] of the peace offering [08002] an offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068]; the fat [02459] that covereth [03680] the inwards [07130], and all the fat [02459] that is upon the inwards [07130],
⁴ And the two [08147] kidneys [03629], and the fat [02459] that is on them, which is by the flanks [03689], and the caul [03508] above the liver [03516], with the kidneys [03629], it shall he take away [05493].
⁵ And Aaron's [0175] sons [01121] shall burn [06999] it on the altar [04196] upon the burnt sacrifice [05930], which is upon the wood [06086] that is on the fire [0784]: it is an offering made by fire [0801], of a sweet [05207] savour [07381] unto the LORD [03068].

¹⁵ Also before they burnt [06999] the fat [02459], the priest's [03548] servant [05288] came [0935], and said [0559] to the man [0376] that sacrificed [02076], Give [05414] flesh [01320] to roast [06740] for the priest [03548]; for he will not have [03947] sodden [01310] flesh [01320] of thee, but raw [02416].
¹⁶ And if any man [0376] said [0559] unto him, Let them not fail [06999] to burn [06999] the fat [02459] presently [03117], and then take [03947] as much as thy soul [05315] desireth [0183]; then he would answer [0559] him, Nay; but thou shalt give [05414] it me now: and if not, I will take [03947] it by force [02394].

¹³ And the priests [03548]' custom [04941] with the people [05971] was, that, when any man [0376] offered [02076] sacrifice [02077], the priest's [03548] servant [05288] came [0935], while the flesh [01320] was in seething [01310], with a fleshhook [04207] of three [07969] teeth [08127] in his hand [03027];
¹⁴ And he struck [05221] it into the pan [03595], or kettle [01731], or caldron [07037], or pot [06517]; all that the fleshhook [04207] brought up [05927] the priest [03548] took [03947] for himself. So they did [06213] in Shiloh [07887] unto all the Israelites [03478] that came [0935] thither.

⁴ Yet I am the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] from the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], and thou shalt know [03045] no god [0430] but me [02108]: for there is no saviour [03467] beside me [01115].

² Israel [03478] shall cry [02199] unto me, My God [0430], we know [03045] thee.

²¹ Surely such are the dwellings [04908] of the wicked [05767], and this is the place [04725] of him that knoweth [03045] not God [0410].

³⁴ And this shall be a sign [0226] unto thee, that shall come [0935] upon thy two [08147] sons [01121], on Hophni [02652] and Phinehas [06372]; in one [0259] day [03117] they shall die [04191] both [08147] of them.

¹² Now the sons [01121] of Eli [05941] were sons [01121] of Belial [01100]; they knew [03045] not the LORD [03068].

¹⁸ But Samuel [08050] ministered [08334] before [06440] the LORD [03068], being a child [05288], girded [02296] with a linen [0906] ephod [0646].

¹ And the child [05288] Samuel [08050] ministered [08334] unto the LORD [03068] before [06440] Eli [05941]. And the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] was precious [03368] in those days [03117]; there was no open [06555] vision [02377].

²¹ And the man [0376] Elkanah [0511], and all his house [01004], went up [05927] to offer [02076] unto the LORD [03068] the yearly [03117] sacrifice [02077], and his vow [05088].

¹¹ And Elkanah [0511] went [03212] to Ramah [07414] to his house [01004]. And the child [05288] did [01961] minister [08334] unto the LORD [03068] before [06440] Eli [05941] the priest [03548].