John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 28. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord , etc.] To be employed in his service, not for a few days, months, or years, but for his whole life. The Targum is, “I have delivered him, that he may minister before the Lord;” as she had received him front him as an answer of prayer, she gave him up to him again according to her vow: as long as he liveth he shall be lent unto the Lord, or as the Targum, “all the days that he lives he shall be ministering before the Lord;” or “all the days he shall be asked” (or “required”) by or for the Lord f34 ; that is, he shall be lent unto him, and serve him as long as it is desired: and he worshipped the Lord there ; in the tabernacle at the same time; either Elkanah, who with Hannah brought the child to Eli, and now gave thanks to God for giving them the child, and prayed unto him that he might be received into the service of the sanctuary; or else Eli, to whom the child was brought for admittance, who when he heard that Hannah’s request was granted, which he had entreated also might be or had declared it would be, bowed his head, and gave thanks to God for it; or rather the child Samuel, as he was taught and trained up, bowed himself before the Lord, and worshipped him in the tabernacle as soon as he was brought into it, though a child; for he only is spoken of in this and the preceding verse; and by some interpreters the name Samuel is supplied; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read in the plural number, “and they worshipped the Lord there”: that is, Elkanah and his wife; so Mr. Weemse translates and interprets it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-28 - Elkanah and his family had a journey before them, and a family of children to take with them, yet they would not move till they ha worshipped God together. Prayer and provender do not hinder a journey When men are in such haste to set out upon journeys, or to engage in business, that they have not time to worship God, they are likely to proceed without his presence and blessing. Hannah, though she felt warm regard for the courts of God's house, begged to stay at home. God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Those who are detained from publi ordinances, by the nursing and tending of little children, may tak comfort from this instance, and believe, that if they do that duty in right spirit, God will graciously accept them therein. Hannah presented her child to the Lord with a grateful acknowledgment of his goodness in answer to prayer. Whatever we give to God, it is what we have firs asked and received from him. All our gifts to him were first his gift to us. The child Samuel early showed true piety. Little children shoul be taught to worship God when very young. Their parents should teac them in it, bring them to it, and put them on doing it as well as the can; God will graciously accept them, and will teach them to do better __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וגם 1571 אנכי 595 השׁאלתהו 7592 ליהוה 3068 כל 3605 הימים 3117 אשׁר 834 היה 1961 הוא 1931 שׁאול 7592 ליהוה 3068 וישׁתחו 7812 שׁם 8033 ליהוה׃ 3068
