1 Samuel 2:5

“They that are full have hired out themselves for bread, etc.] Such as have been full of the good things of this life have been stripped of all, and reduced to such circumstances as to be obliged to hire themselves out to persons to labour under them for their bread. Hannah has either respect to some instances she had known, or prophesies of what would be hereafter, and was fulfilled in the Israelites, when in the hands of the Egyptians and Assyrians, (Lam 4:6) and may be exemplified in the case of the prodigal son, (<421513>Luke 15:13-16) and is true of such who have larger gifts, but not grace, and which they exercise for lucre sake, and are mere hirelings; and of self-righteous persons who…”

“they that were hungry ceased--that is, to hunger. the barren hath born seven--that is, many children.”

“See an instance in 1 Samuel 2:36. See, too, in Ezekiel 13:19, another example of hire paid in bread. Ceased - i. e. were at rest, did no work. The general sense is expressed by the translation of the Latin Version, “they were filled.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Hired themselves out for bread - It is the same thing which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing, and following verses. Ceased - That is, ceased to be hungry. Seven - That is, many, as seven is often used. She speaks in the prophetick style, the past time, for the future; for though she had actually born but one, yet she had a confident persuasion that she should have more, which was grounded either upon some particular assurance from God; or rather upon the prayer or prediction of Eli. She - That is, Peninnah. Feeble - Either because she was now past child - bearing: or, because divers of her children, which were her strength and her glory, were dead, as the Hebrew doctors…”

“2:5 those who were starving are now full: Cp. 1:7, 18. • The phrase seven children poetically means that the childless woman would be blessed with a house full of children (cp. 2:21).”

“full: Psa 34:10; Luk 1:53, Luk 16:25 the barren: Sa1 1:20; Psa 113:9 waxed feeble: Sa1 1:6; Isa 54:1; Jer 15:9; Gal 4:27 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:6”