Chapter
Verse

1 Samuel 2:28

ESV Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel.
NIV I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites.
NASB Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel?
CSB Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite fire offerings.
NLT I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests.
KJV And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
NKJV Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

What does 1 Samuel 2:28 mean?

A man of God, an unnamed prophet, has come to the priest of the Lord's sanctuary, Eli, at Shiloh (1 Samuel 2:27). Through this man, the Lord has asked Eli to remember that his ancestors were freed from slavery by God's miraculous power. The use of questions, instead of statements, is meant as a challenge—almost daring Eli to deny this was the case. Eli was a direct descendant of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel and Moses' brother (Exodus 29:44).

Now God applies the same tactic while referring to Aaron, chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to be His priest. The Lord then mentions several of the duties of the priest. The priest is the one permitted to go up to the Lord's altar to offer the sacrifices (Leviticus 1:9). The priest burned incense before the Lord on a special altar (Exodus 30:7). The burning of the incense was meant, in part, to create a kind of cloud covering for the priest's protection (Leviticus 16:13). Finally, the Lord mentions that Aaron was chosen as the high priest to wear the official priestly ephod garment in His presence (Leviticus 8:7). This official ephod is described in Exodus 28:6–30 and is different from the more common priestly ephods, such as the one young Samuel wore (1 Samuel 2:18).

Finally, the Lord says to Eli that He gave to Eli's father, meaning Aaron and his descendants, all the offerings by fire from Israel's worshipers. By this, the Lord means that the priests were given a portion of the offerings for their own food, aside from those that were burned up completely (Leviticus 6:14–18; 7:1–38).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: