1Sa 2:18 | NET2full | STEP | Now Samuel was ministering with the favor of the Lord . The boy was dressed in a linen ephod .

‏ 1 Samuel 2:18

18 Now ^{▼▼tn The word “now” does not appear in the Hebrew but was added as part of beginning a new topic in a new paragraph. Verse 11b begins similarly.} Samuel was ministering with the favor of the Lord. ^{▼▼tn Heb “with [or “before”] the face of.” Cf. 1 Sam 2:11 and 1 Kgs 13:6 where the face represents favor.} The boy ^{▼▼tn The term נַעַר (naʿar), here translated “boy,” often refers to a servant or apprentice in line for a position of authority. The same term describes Samuel in vs 11 and Eli’s sons in vs 17. The repetition helps establish the contrast between Samuel and Eli’s sons.} was dressed in a linen ephod.