1Sa 2:28 | NET2full | STEP | I chose your ancestor from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest , to offer sacrifice on my altar , to burn incense , and to bear the ephod before me. I gave to your ancestor’s house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites .

‏ 1 Samuel 2:28

28 I chose ^{▼▼tn Heb “even choosing.” The finite verb shortens the sentence for better English style.} your ancestor ^{▼▼tn Heb “him”; the referent (Eli’s ancestor, i.e., Aaron) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifice on my altar, to burn incense, and to bear ^{▼▼tn The verb נָשָׁא (nasaʾ) normally means “to carry” or “to bear” and refers to an ephod three times. The issue is whether the context here views the ephod more as a piece of clothing or as a cultic object. Exodus 28:4 classifies the ephod as a garment, which is made of linen (Exod 39:2). But a different verb is used in 1 Sam 2:18 and elsewhere to describe wearing an ephod. The ephod also includes stones with cultic significance as a memorial (Exod 28:12; 39:7). An ephod is associated with or appears as a cultic object (Judg 8:27 and possibly 17:5 and 18:14-20) and can be “in the hand” (1 Sam 23:6) or brought as an object (1 Sam 30:7). David uses an ephod, brought by Abiathar the priest, to consult the Lord’s will (1 Sam 23:9-10; 30:7-8). In keeping with the other infinitives in this verse that refer to priestly activities and functions, the translation “bear the ephod” reflects carrying the ephod which was used for divine consultation.} the ephod before me. I gave to your ancestor’s house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites.