And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
Ver. 20. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife.] In the words of God, as being his high priest: and they took it so, and sped accordingly. 1Sa 2:21 Faith is effectual.
For the loan which is lent to the Lord.] This is a periphrasis for Samuel; who being begged of God, was no less the fruit of his parents' supplications, than of their bodies. The words may be rendered, "For the petition which he asked of the Lord": and these, saith Junius, are not the words of Eli to Elkanah, but of the author concerning Elkanah.