I Samuel 2

שמואל א׳ פרק ב׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 2 of 31 | Day: 47 of 742

Date: March 30, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

I Samuel chapter 2 is one of the most structurally rich chapters in the Early Prophets. It opens with Hannah’s song of thanksgiving, a poetic masterpiece that proclaims a cosmic theology of divine reversal — the mighty are broken while the feeble gird on strength, the barren woman bears seven while the mother of many is forlorn. Radak observes that Hannah’s song reaches beyond the personal to the universal, addressing the fate of nations.

The chapter’s literary architecture is built on a devastating contrast between Hannah’s faith and the corruption of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Their sins escalate from seizing sacrificial meat before the fat is burned to God, to misconduct with the women serving at the Tent of Meeting. Rashi, following the Talmud (Shabbat 55b), offers a mitigated reading, yet even this underscores a priesthood that has lost its moral compass.

Woven between scenes of priestly corruption is the quiet growth of the boy Samuel. Three times the text interrupts the account of Hophni and Phinehas to note Samuel’s faithful service, placing his devotion in direct counterpoint to the priestly house’s decay.

The chapter culminates in a devastating oracle from an unnamed “man of God” to Eli, announcing the end of his dynasty: both sons will die on the same day, and God will raise up a “faithful priest.” Radak identifies this faithful priest as Zadok, who replaced the line of Eli under Solomon.

פרק ב׳ · Chapter 2

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל חַנָּה֙ וַתֹּאמַ֔ר עָלַ֤ץ לִבִּי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה רָ֥מָה קַרְנִ֖י בַּֽיהֹוָ֑ה רָ֤חַב פִּי֙ עַל־א֣וֹיְבַ֔י כִּ֥י שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃

English:

And Hannah prayed:My heart exults in GOD;I have triumphedaI have triumphed Lit. “My horn is high.” through GOD.I gloatbI gloat Lit. “My mouth is wide.” over my enemies;I rejoice in Your deliverance.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

אֵין־קָד֥וֹשׁ כַּיהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֣י אֵ֣י�� בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר כֵּאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

English:

There is no holy one like GOD,Truly, there is none beside You;There is no rock like our God.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

אַל־תַּרְבּ֤וּ תְדַבְּרוּ֙ גְּבֹהָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה יֵצֵ֥א עָתָ֖ק מִפִּיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֤ל דֵּעוֹת֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה (ולא) [וְל֥וֹ] נִתְכְּנ֖וּ עֲלִלֽוֹת׃

English:

Talk no more with lofty pride,Let no arrogance cross your lips!For the ETERNAL is an all-knowing God,By whom actions are measured.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

קֶ֥שֶׁת גִּבֹּרִ֖ים חַתִּ֑ים וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים אָ֥זְרוּ חָֽיִל׃

English:

The bows of the mighty are broken,And the faltering are girded with strength.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

שְׂבֵעִ֤ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַד־עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה׃

English:

The sated are hired out for bread;The starving hunger no more.While the infertile woman bears seven,The mother of many is forlorn.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

יְהֹוָ֖ה מֵמִ֣ית וּמְחַיֶּ֑ה מוֹרִ֥יד שְׁא֖וֹל וַיָּֽעַל׃

English:

GOD deals death and gives life,Casts down into Sheol and raises up.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

יְהֹוָ֖ה מוֹרִ֣ישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁ֑יר מַשְׁפִּ֖יל אַף־מְרוֹמֵֽם׃

English:

GOD makes poor and makes rich,Casts down, and also lifts high—

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

מֵקִ֨ים מֵעָפָ֜ר דָּ֗ל מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ יָרִ֣ים אֶבְי֔וֹן לְהוֹשִׁיב֙ עִם־נְדִיבִ֔ים וְכִסֵּ֥א כָב֖וֹד יַנְחִלֵ֑ם כִּ֤י לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מְצֻ֣קֵי אֶ֔רֶץ וַיָּ֥שֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם תֵּבֵֽל׃

English:

Raising the poor from the dust,Lifting up the needy from the dunghill,To set them with nobles,Granting them seats of honor.For the pillars of the earth belong to GOD,Who has set the world upon them.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

רַגְלֵ֤י חֲסִידָו֙ יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּי־לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר־אִֽישׁ׃

English:

[God] guards the steps of the faithful,But the wicked perish in darkness—For none shall prevail by strength.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

יְהֹוָ֞ה יֵחַ֣תּוּ מְרִיבָ֗ו עָלָו֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יַרְעֵ֔ם יְהֹוָ֖ה יָדִ֣ין אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִתֶּן־עֹ֣ז לְמַלְכּ֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖ם קֶ֥רֶן מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ {פ}

English:

GOD’s foes shall be shattered—Thundered against from the heavens. GOD will judge the ends of the earth—Giving power to the king,And triumph tocAnd triumph to Lit. “And will raise the horn of.” the anointed one.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֶלְקָנָ֛ה הָרָמָ֖תָה עַל־בֵּית֑וֹ וְהַנַּ֗עַר הָיָ֤ה מְשָׁרֵת֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י עֵלִ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

English:

Then ElkanahdElkanah See the second note at 1.28. [and Hannah] went home to Ramah; and the boy entered the service of GOD under the priest Eli.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וּבְנֵ֥י עֵלִ֖י בְּנֵ֣י בְלִיָּ֑עַל לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Now Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they paid no heed toepaid no heed to Lit. “did not know.” GOD.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־הָעָ֑ם כׇּל־אִ֞ישׁ זֹבֵ֣חַ זֶ֗בַח וּבָ֨א נַ֤עַר הַכֹּהֵן֙ כְּבַשֵּׁ֣ל הַבָּשָׂ֔ר וְהַמַּזְלֵ֛ג שְׁלֹ֥שׁ הַשִּׁנַּ֖יִם בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

English:

This is how the priests used to deal with the people: Whenever anyone brought a sacrifice, the priest’s boy would come along with a three-pronged fork while the meat was boiling,

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וְהִכָּ֨ה בַכִּיּ֜וֹר א֣וֹ בַדּ֗וּד א֤וֹ בַקַּלַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַפָּר֔וּר כֹּ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲלֶ֣ה הַמַּזְלֵ֔ג יִקַּ֥ח הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בּ֑וֹ כָּ֚כָה יַעֲשׂ֣וּ לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַבָּאִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃

English:

and he would thrust it into cauldron, or the kettle, or the great pot, or the small cooking-pot;fcauldron … or … cooking-pot These vessels have not been distinguished precisely. and whatever the fork brought up, the priest would take away on it.gon it Targum and Septuagint add “for himself.” This was the practice at Shiloh with all the Israelites who came there.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

גַּם֮ בְּטֶ֘רֶם֮ יַקְטִר֣וּן אֶת־הַחֵ֒לֶב֒ וּבָ֣א ׀ נַ֣עַר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְאָמַר֙ לָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֹּבֵ֔חַ תְּנָ֣ה בָשָׂ֔ר לִצְל֖וֹת לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְלֹא־יִקַּ֧ח מִמְּךָ֛ בָּשָׂ֥ר מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל כִּ֥י אִם־חָֽי׃

English:

[But now] even before the suet was turned into smoke, the priest’s boy would come and say to the party that was sacrificing, “Hand over some meat to roast for the priest; for he won’t accept boiled meat from you, only raw.”

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הָאִ֗ישׁ קַטֵּ֨ר יַקְטִיר֤וּן כַּיּוֹם֙ הַחֵ֔לֶב וְקַ֨ח־לְךָ֔ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְאָמַ֥ר ׀ [לֹא֙] (לו) כִּ֚י עַתָּ֣ה תִתֵּ֔ן וְאִם־לֹ֖א לָקַ֥חְתִּי בְחׇזְקָֽה׃

English:

And if the response to this was, “Let them first turn the suet into smoke, and then take as much as you want,” he would reply, “No, hand it over at once or I’ll take it by force.”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִ֨י חַטַּ֧את הַנְּעָרִ֛ים גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֤י נִֽאֲצוּ֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֵ֖ת מִנְחַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

The sin of the young men against GOD was very great, for those men treated GOD’s offerings impiously.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וּשְׁמוּא��֕ל מְשָׁרֵ֖ת אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה נַ֕עַר חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃

English:

Samuel was engaged in the service of GOD as an attendant, girded with a linen ephod.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וּמְעִ֤יל קָטֹן֙ תַּעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣וֹ אִמּ֔וֹ וְהַעַלְתָ֥ה ל֖וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ יָמִ֑ימָה בַּֽעֲלוֹתָהּ֙ אֶת־אִישָׁ֔הּ לִזְבֹּ֖חַ אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִֽים׃

English:

His mother would also make a little robe for him and bring it up to him every year, when she made the pilgrimage with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וּבֵרַ֨ךְ עֵלִ֜י אֶת־אֶלְקָנָ֣ה וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וְאָמַר֙ יָשֵׂם֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה לְךָ֥ זֶ֙רַע֙ מִן־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את תַּ֚חַת הַשְּׁאֵלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖ל לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְהָלְכ֖וּ לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃

English:

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May GOD granthgrant 4QSamᵃ and Septuagint read “repay.” you offspring by this woman in place of the loan she made to GOD.” Then they would return home.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

כִּֽי־פָקַ֤ד יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־חַנָּ֔ה וַתַּ֛הַר וַתֵּ֥לֶד שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־בָנִ֖ים וּשְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֑וֹת וַיִּגְדַּ֛ל הַנַּ֥עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל עִם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

ForiFor 4QSamᵃ reads “And.” GOD took note of Hannah; she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Young Samuel meanwhile grew up in the service of GOD.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וְעֵלִ֖י זָקֵ֣ן מְאֹ֑ד וְשָׁמַ֗ע אֵת֩ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשׂ֤וּן בָּנָיו֙ לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֵ֤ת אֲשֶֽׁר־יִשְׁכְּ��וּן֙ אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים הַצֹּ֣בְא֔וֹת פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

English:

Now Eli was very old. When he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who performed tasksjperformed tasks Meaning of Heb. uncertain. at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם לָ֥מָּה תַעֲשׂ֖וּן כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵיכֶ֣ם רָעִ֔ים מֵאֵ֖ת כׇּל־הָעָ֥ם אֵֽלֶּה׃

English:

he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I get evil reports about you from the people on all hands.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

אַ֖ל בָּנָ֑י כִּ֠י לֽוֹא־טוֹבָ֤ה הַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י שֹׁמֵ֔עַ מַעֲבִרִ֖ים עַם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Don’t, my sons! It is no favorable report I hear GOD’s people spreading about.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

אִם־יֶחֱטָ֨א אִ֤ישׁ לְאִישׁ֙ וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִ֤ם לַֽיהֹוָה֙ יֶחֱטָא־אִ֔ישׁ מִ֖י יִתְפַּלֶּל־ל֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ יְהֹוָ֖ה לַהֲמִיתָֽם׃

English:

If someone sins against another person, God may grant a pardon;kpardon Meaning of Heb. uncertain. but if someone offends against GOD, who can obtain a pardon?”lobtain a pardon Meaning of Heb. uncertain. But they ignored their father’s plea; for GOD was resolved that they should die.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וְהַנַּ֣עַר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל הֹלֵ֥ךְ וְגָדֵ֖ל וָט֑וֹב גַּ֚ם עִם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְגַ֖ם עִם־אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ {פ}

English:

Young Samuel, meanwhile, grew in esteem and favor both with God and with other people.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֥א אִישׁ־אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־עֵלִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲנִגְלֹ֤ה נִגְלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם לְבֵ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃

English:

An agent of God came to Eli, and he said to him, “Thus said GOD: Lo, I revealed Myself to your father’s house in Egypt when they were subject to the House of Pharaoh,

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וּבָחֹ֣ר אֹ֠ת֠וֹ מִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל לִי֙ לְכֹהֵ֔ן לַעֲל֣וֹת עַֽל־מִזְבְּחִ֗י לְהַקְטִ֥יר קְטֹ֛רֶת לָשֵׂ֥את אֵפ֖וֹד לְפָנָ֑י וָֽאֶתְּנָה֙ לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ אֶת־כׇּל־אִשֵּׁ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

and I chose them from among all the tribes of Israel to be My priests—to ascend My altar, to burn incense, [and] to carry an ephodmephod Here a device for obtaining oracles (cf. 14.3; 23.6, 9–12), not a garment as in v. 18 above. before Me—and I assigned to your father’s house all offerings by fire of the Israelites.

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

לָ֣מָּה תִבְעֲט֗וּ בְּזִבְחִי֙ וּבְמִנְחָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי מָע֑וֹן וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד אֶת־בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ מִמֶּ֔נִּי לְהַבְרִיאֲכֶ֗ם מֵרֵאשִׁ֛ית כׇּל־מִנְחַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְעַמִּֽי׃

English:

Why, then, do you maliciously trample upon the sacrifices and offerings that I have commanded?nmaliciously trample … commanded Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “gaze [cf. Septuagint] grudgingly upon the sacrifices and offerings that I have commanded” (connecting maʻon with ʻoyen, “keeping a jealous eye”; see 1 Sam. 18.9); cf. v. 32 and note there. You have honored your sons more than Me, feeding on the first portions of every offering of My people Israel.oSee vv. 15–16.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

לָכֵ֗ן נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אָמ֣וֹר אָמַ֔רְתִּי בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔יךָ יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ לְפָנַ֖י עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְעַתָּ֤ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה֙ חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֔י כִּֽי־מְכַבְּדַ֥י אֲכַבֵּ֖ד וּבֹזַ֥י יֵקָֽלּוּ׃

English:

Assuredly—declares the ETERNAL, the God of Israel—I intended for you and your father’s house to remain in My service forever. But now—declares GOD—far be it from Me! For I honor those who honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

הִנֵּה֙ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִ֔ים וְגָֽדַעְתִּי֙ אֶת־זְרֹ֣עֲךָ֔ וְאֶת־זְרֹ֖��ַ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ מִֽהְי֥וֹת זָקֵ֖ן בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

English:

A time is coming when I will break your power and that of your father’s house, and there shall be no elder in your house.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וְהִבַּטְתָּ֙ צַ֣ר מָע֔וֹן בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵיטִ֖יב אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה זָקֵ֛ן בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

English:

You will gaze grudginglypgrudgingly Cf. first note at v. 29. at all the bounty that will be bestowed on Israel, but there shall never be an elder in your house.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

וְאִ֗ישׁ לֹֽא־אַכְרִ֤ית לְךָ֙ מֵעִ֣ם מִזְבְּחִ֔י לְכַלּ֥וֹת אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יךָ וְלַאֲדִ֣יב אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וְכׇל־מַרְבִּ֥ית בֵּיתְךָ֖ יָמ֥וּתוּ אֲנָשִֽׁים׃

English:

qMeaning of verse uncertain. I shall not cut off all your offspring from My altar; [but,] to make your eyes pine and your spirit languish, all the increase in your house shall die as [ordinary] men.ras [ordinary] men Or “en masse,” while allowing one survivor; cf. 22.18–20.

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וְזֶה־לְּךָ֣ הָא֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָבֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־חׇפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָ֑ס בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד יָמ֥וּתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

And this shall be a sign for you: The fate of your two sons Hophni and Phinehas—they shall both die on the same day.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַהֲקִימֹתִ֥י לִי֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן נֶאֱמָ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר בִּלְבָבִ֥י וּבְנַפְשִׁ֖י יַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וּבָנִ֤יתִי לוֹ֙ בַּ֣יִת נֶאֱמָ֔ן וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לִפְנֵֽי־מְשִׁיחִ֖י כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

English:

And I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest, who will act in accordance with My wishes and My purposes. I will build for him an enduring house, and he shall walk before My anointed evermore.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וְהָיָ֗ה כׇּל־הַנּוֹתָר֙ בְּבֵ֣יתְךָ֔ יָבוֹא֙ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֣ת ל֔וֹ לַאֲג֥וֹרַת כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּר־לָ֑��ֶם וְאָמַ֗ר סְפָחֵ֥נִי נָ֛א אֶל־אַחַ֥ת הַכְּהֻנּ֖וֹת לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פַּת־לָֽחֶם׃ {פ}

English:

And all the survivors of your house shall come and bow low to him for the sake of a money fee and a loaf of bread, and shall say, ‘Please, assign me to one of the priestly duties, that I may have a morsel of bread to eat.’”

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