But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
But Samuel did the work of the Lord's house, while he was a child, dressed in a linen ephod.
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
Girded with a linen ephod - This the Targum translates אסיר כרדוט דבוץ asir cardut debuts, "Girded with a cardit of byssus, or fine linen." The word cardut they seem to have borrowed from the Greek χειριδωτος, a tunic, having χειριδας, i.e., sleeves that came down to, or covered, the hands. This was esteemed an effeminate garment among the Romans. See Buxtorf's Talmudic Lexicon.
Girded with a linen ephod - This was the usual dress of the priests. It does not appear whether Levites wore an ephod properly. Possibly it was a mark of Samuel's special dedication to the Lord's service that he wore one. (See the marginal reference). The ephod was sometimes used as an idolatrous implement Judges 8:27.
2:18 Ministered — That is, performed his ministration carefully and faithfully.
Before the Lord — In God's tabernacle.
Ephod — A garment used in God's service, and allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though no Levite, was a Nazarite, from his birth.