1 Samuel 2:36 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Crouch to him, in way of humble supplication. See 1 Kings 2:26; A morsel of bread; whereas before they were so nice and delicate, that my liberal allowance could not satisfy them, but they must have their meat raw and fat, &c., above, 1 Samuel 2:13-16; so the punishment is suited to the nature of their sin. Into one of the priests offices; into the meanest office belonging to it. See Ezekiel 44:10,11, &c. Quest. How could they be reduced to so great straits, seeing, though they lost the high priesthood, they still were inferior priests, and had a right to those plentiful provisions which belonged to that order? Answ. First, They might be degraded, not only from the office of the high priest, but also from that of the inferior priests, and consequently might forfeit and lose all the privileges belonging to their office. Secondly, This might be from the tyranny and violence of some of the succeeding priests of Eleazar's line towards that other line, which had long stood in competition with them, and had for a season got away the priesthood from them; for this text only relates the matter of fact, but doth not express an approbation of it.

1 Samuel 2:36

36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Putg me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.