1 Samuel 2

Hannah's Prayer

1 And Hannah prayed and said,
f "My heart exults in the Lord;
g my strength 1 is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because h I rejoice in your salvation.

2 i "There is none holy like the Lord;
there is none besides you;
there is j no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 k The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
l The barren has borne seven,
m but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 n The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 o The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
p he brings low and he exalts.
8 q He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
r to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
s For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.

9 t "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 u The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
v against them he will thunder in heaven.
w The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
x and exalt the power 2 of his anointed."

11 Then Elkanah went home y to Ramah. z And the boy ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.

Eli's Worthless Sons

12 Now the sons of Eli were a worthless men. b They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant 3 would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, c before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw." 16 And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force." 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great d in the sight of the Lord, e for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

18 f Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy g clothed with a linen ephod. 19 And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year h when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the Lord give you children by this woman i for the petition she asked of the Lord." So then they would return to their home.

21 j Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. k And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord.

Eli Rebukes His Sons

22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who l were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, m for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.

26 Now the young man Samuel n continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

The Lord Rejects Eli's Household

27 And there came o a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus the Lord has said, p 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? 28 q Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, r to wear an ephod before me? s I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 29 Why then do you t scorn 4 my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' 30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: v 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' w but now the Lord declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, x the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 Then y in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, z and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his 5 eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants 6 of your house shall die by the sword of men. 7 34 a And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die b on the same day. 35 c And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. d And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before e my anointed forever. 36 And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, "Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:1 - 10
    And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the Lord ; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
    Luke 1:46 - 53
    And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:10
    The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to ...
    Psalms 75:10
    All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but...
    Psalms 89:17
    For you are the glory of their strength; by you...
    Psalms 89:24
    My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be ...
    Psalms 92:10
    But you have exalted my horn like that of the w...
    Psalms 112:9
    He has distributed freely; he has given to the ...
    Psalms 148:14
    He has raised up a horn for his people, praise ...
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 9:14
    That I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.
    Psalms 13:5
    But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
    Psalms 20:5
    May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
    Psalms 35:9
    Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 15:11
    Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
    Psalms 86:8
    There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
    Psalms 89:6
    For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord ? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord.
    Psalms 89:8
    O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:30 - 31
    How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up?
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 37:15
    Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
    Psalms 46:9
    He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
    Psalms 76:3
    There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 113:9
    He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
    Isaiah 54:1
    Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the Lord.
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 15:9
    She who bore seven has grown feeble; she has fainted away; her sun went down while it was yet day; she has been shamed and disgraced. And the rest of them I will give to the sword before their enemies, declares the Lord.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:39
    'See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
  10. Cross References
    Job 1:21
    And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
  11. Cross References
    Job 5:11
    He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
    Psalms 75:7
    But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 113:7 - 8
    He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.
    Daniel 4:17
    The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.
    Luke 1:52
    He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.
  13. Cross References
    Job 36:7
    He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
  14. Cross References
    Job 38:4 - 6
    Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
    Psalms 24:2
    For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
    Psalms 102:25
    Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
    Psalms 104:5
    He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 121:3
    He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
    Proverbs 3:26
    For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
    Psalms 91:11
    For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 2:9
    You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:10
    As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.
    Psalms 18:13
    The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.
    2 Samuel 22:14
    The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 96:10
    Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.
    Psalms 96:13
    Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
    Psalms 98:9
    Before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
  19. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:1
    And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the Lord ; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
    Psalms 89:24
    My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:19
    They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord ; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:18
    Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.
    1 Samuel 3:1
    Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:16
    Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.
  23. Cross References
    Judges 2:10
    And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
  24. Cross References
    Leviticus 3:5
    Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
    Leviticus 3:16
    And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord 's.
    Leviticus 7:23
    Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat.
    Leviticus 7:25
    For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.
    Leviticus 7:31
    The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 6:11
    Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
  26. Cross References
    Malachi 2:8
    But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.
  27. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:11
    Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy ministered to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
    1 Samuel 3:1
    Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
  28. Cross References
    Exodus 28:4
    These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
    2 Samuel 6:14
    And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
    1 Chronicles 15:27
    David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod.
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:3
    Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
  30. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:28
    Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." And he worshiped the Lord there.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 21:1
    The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:26
    Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.
    1 Samuel 3:19
    And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
    Judges 13:24
    And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him.
    Luke 1:80
    And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
    Luke 2:40
    And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
  33. Cross References
    Exodus 38:8
    He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
  34. Cross References
    Joshua 11:20
    For it was the Lord 's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
  35. Cross References
    Luke 2:52
    And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
  36. Cross References
    1 Kings 13:1
    And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 3:1 - 12:1
    Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 28:1
    Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests - Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
    Numbers 18:1
    So the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.
    Numbers 18:7
    And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
  39. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:3
    Including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
    1 Samuel 22:18
    Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.
  40. Cross References
    Leviticus 2:3
    But the rest of the grain offering shall be for...
    Leviticus 2:10
    But the rest of the grain offering shall be for...
    Leviticus 6:16
    And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat...
    Leviticus 7:7 - 8
    The guilt offering is just like the sin offerin...
    Leviticus 7:34
    For the breast that is waved and the thigh that...
    Leviticus 10:14 - 15
    But the breast that is waved and the thigh that...
    Numbers 5:9 - 10
    And every contribution, all the holy donations ...
    Numbers 18:8 - 19
    Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, "Behold, I have g...
  41. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:15
    But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.
  42. Cross References
    Exodus 27:21
    In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
    Exodus 29:9
    And you shall gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.
  43. Cross References
    Jeremiah 18:9 - 10
    And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it.
  44. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:27
    So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, thus fulfilling the word of the Lord that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
    1 Samuel 4:11
    And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
    1 Samuel 4:18
    As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
    1 Samuel 4:20
    And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or pay attention.
    1 Samuel 22:18 - 19
    Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.
  45. Cross References
    1 Samuel 4:11
    And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
    Judges 18:30
    And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
    Psalms 78:59 - 64
    When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.
  46. Cross References
    Zechariah 8:4
    Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age.
  47. Cross References
    1 Kings 13:3
    And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: 'Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.'
  48. Cross References
    1 Samuel 4:11
    And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
  49. Cross References
    1 Kings 2:35
    The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
    1 Chronicles 29:22
    And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest.
  50. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:28
    Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.
    1 Kings 11:38
    And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
    2 Samuel 7:11
    From the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
    2 Samuel 7:27
    For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
  51. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:51
    Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
    Psalms 18:50
    Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
    Psalms 89:20
    I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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