Samuel Dedicated
As promised, Hannah gave her son Samuel into the care of Eli the priest to serve Yahvah at the tabernacle. How did Yahvah see this arrangement? He saw Samuel as a priest himself.
1 Samuel 1:21-28
21The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Master the yearly sacrifices of his vow.
22Hannah did not go up for she said to her husband, I will wait until the boy is weaned and then I will bring him that he may appear before the Master and stay there forever.
1 Samuel 1:21-2223Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him. May the Master establish your word. So the woman waited and nursed her son until she weaned him.
1 Samuel 1:2324When she had weaned him she took him up with her with a 3 year old bull and an ephah of flour and a skin of wine and brought him to the house of the Master to Shiloh and the boy was young.
25They slew the bull and brought the boy to Eli.
26Hannah said to Eli, I beg you my master, as your soul lives my master, I am the woman that stood by you here praying to the Master for this boy.
27I prayed and the Master has granted me my petition which I asked of him.
28Therefore I have also promised him to the Master as long as he lives, for I petitioned him of the Master. They bowed to the Master there. 1 Samuel 1:24-28 (1 Samuel 1:21-28 BRB)
Count
3 = Leviticus
Leviticus
The only narrative in Leviticus is the story of ordaining Aaron and his sons to serve Yahvah as priests. If there's one thing you are supposed to remember from the book, this is it, and this is the pattern behind what's happening when Hannah brings Samuel to the priests, at the tabernacle, with a bull, to serve Yahvah all his days. This is a wonderful fit that hints at a backstory for Samuel's family.