And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
Ver. 27. And there came a man of God unto Eli.] This man of God was Samuel, saith Junius: but that is not likely; rather it was Elkanah, as the Hebrews will have it, or some other prophet extraordinarily raised up by God, to show Eli and his sons their ingentia beneficia, flagitia, supplicia. Yet some good divines hold that this prophecy is part of that sent afterwards to Eli by Samuel, 1Sa 3:11-14 and here set down by way of anticipation.
Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father?] viz., Of Aaron, of whom thou art descended by Ithamar. This referreth, saith Lyra, to Exodus 4:27, before which time Aaron was a prophet, say the Hebrews, and prophesied in Egypt, reproving the Hebrews for their idolatry there, and that one of his sermons was recorded by Ezekiel. a
a Pet. Martyr.