1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2
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Hannah giving her son Samuel to the priest by Jan Victors, 1645. According to the biblical account, Hannah sang her song when she presented Samuel to Eli the priest.
Book	Books of Samuel
Category	Nevi'im
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	9

1 Samuel 2 or Chapter 2 of the first Book of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible recounts the Song of Hannah, the corruption of the priests descended from Eli, and Samuel's ministry to God 'even as a child'.

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew.
• This chapter is divided into 36 verses.
• Some ancient sources containing this chapter are:
  • Hebrew:
    • Masoretic Text (10th century)
    • Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC).
    • 4Q51 (4QSam^a): extant: verses 1‑10, 16‑36.
  • Greek translation:
  • Septuagint (3rd century BC)

Period

• The event in this chapter happened at the end of judges period in Israel, about 1100 BC.

Structure

This chapter can be grouped:

• 1 Samuel 2:1–11 = Hannah’s Prayer
• 1 Samuel 2:12–17 = The Wicked Sons of Eli
• 1 Samuel 2:18–21 = Samuel’s Childhood Ministry
• 1 Samuel 2:22–36 = Prophecy Against Eli’s Household