1 Samuel 2:12

Eli’s Sons Misuse Their Sacred Office

2:12 The sons of Eli were wicked men. ¹  They did not recognize the Lord’s authority. ² 

1 Samuel 2:2

2:2 No one is holy ³  like the Lord!

There is no one other than you!

There is no rock ⁴  like our God!

1 Samuel 20:1-2

Jonathan Seeks to Protect David

20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, ⁵  “What have I done? What is my offense? ⁶  How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!”

20:2 Jonathan ⁷  said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing ⁸  large or small without making me aware of it. ⁹  Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

1 Samuel 13:7

13:7 Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River ¹⁰  to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified.

¹ tn Heb “sons of worthlessness.”

² tn Heb “they did not know the Lord.” The verb here has the semantic nuance “recognize the authority of.” Eli’s sons obviously knew who the Lord was; they served in his sanctuary. But they did not recognize his moral authority.

³ sn In this context God’s holiness refers primarily to his sovereignty and incomparability. He is unique and distinct from all other so-called gods.

⁴ tn The LXX has “and there is none righteous like our God.” The Hebrew term translated “rock” refers to a rocky cliff where one can seek refuge from enemies. Here the metaphor depicts God as a protector of his people. Cf. TEV “no protector like our God”; CEV “We’re safer with you than on a high mountain.”

⁵ tn Heb “and he came and said before Jonathan.”

⁶ tn Heb “What is my guilt?”

⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tc The translation follows the Qere, many medieval Hebrew mss, and the ancient versions in reading “he will not do,” rather than the Kethib of the MT (“do to him”).

⁹ tn Heb “without uncovering my ear.”

¹⁰ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.