1 Samuel 2:19

“Moreover, his mother made him a little coat, etc.] Suitable to his stature; this was an outer coat to wear over others, and this also was such an one as the priests wore; it is the same word that is used for the priest’s robe, (<022804>Exodus 28:4), and this, it is very likely, was altogether of her own spinning, and weaving, and making up; which were works women did in those times: and this Hannah did partly out of her great love to her son Samuel, and partly to lessen the expense that Eli, or the congregation, were at in the maintenance of him; and the Talmudists f45 observe, that a priest might wear a garment, and minister in it, if his mother made it; and they give instances of priests,…”

“his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year--Aware that he could not yet render any useful service to the tabernacle, she undertook the expense of supplying him with wearing apparel. All weaving stuffs, manufacture of cloth, and making of suits were anciently the employment of women.”

“A little coat - The robe of the ephod was also one of the garments worn by the High Priest (see Exodus 28:31 note). This pointed mention of the ephod and the robe as worn by the youthful Samuel, seems to point to an extraordinary and irregular priesthood to which he was called by God in an age when the provisions of the Levitical law were not yet in full operation, and in which there was no impropriety in the eyes of his contemporaries, seeing that nonconformity to the whole Law was the rule rather than the exception throughout the days of the Judges. return to 'Top of Page'”

“a little coat: Meil katon, "a little cloak" or surtout; an upper garment (see note on Exo 28:4). from year to year: Sa1 1:3, Sa1 1:21; Exo 23:14 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:20”