1 - 11 The Song of HannahHannah sings a song of praise and thanks to the Lord. My notes: "She praises God as the helper of the weak, who casts down the mighty and raises up the lowly, and who alone is the source of true strength; the hymn ends with a prayer for the king." Also compare to Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46).
12 - 26 The Sons of Eli
Hophni and Phineas, priests of the Shiloh shrine are "worthless men" They treated the offerings with contempt and "they were having relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent" (although my notes state this passage "lacking in the oldest Greek translation, and in a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran"). Good quote: "If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" (25)
27 - 36 Punishment of the Sons of Eli
An unnamed prophet comes to tell Eli that for their sins, his sons will die on the same day. And a faithful priest will rise up (Samuel).
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Hannah's prayer
As Karlton indicated, this is often called the "Magnificat of the Old Testament" and compared to Mary's song in Luke. Hannah praised God for his answer to her prayer. Her joy is in God not Samuel.
"Horn lifted up" is to recognize God's raising from disgrace to honor.
She praises God's sovereignty for He is the source of EVERYTHING.
The final phrase shows that Hannah forsees a new King over the people. They haven't had one so far.
Eli's sons, like Samuel, were his assistants or priest's servants (altar boys). They would tamper with the meat sacrifices which were brought as well as taunt the people bringing the sacrifice.
Hannah and Elkanah would come every year to make their sacrifices and bring Samuel a new robe. Eli would bless them and asked the Lord to replace the child which was promised and removed from them. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters.
Eli would rebuke his sons but they ignored him. It was God's will to kill them.
A prophet came to Eli and told him that, because of their abuse of their office, they will lose their office. "There will not be any old men in your family." All men in Eli's family will die in the prime of life. His two sons will die on the same day. God will raise a faithful priest and Eli's decendants will bow before him and beg to serve him to avoid starvation. Notes indicate that this "faithful priest" is fulfilled by Zadok and Azariah.
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