The word translated “child” is na’ar, meaning a boy of any age up to maturity. At the age of 17 Joseph is called a na’ar. The same term is used of Eli’s sons in v. 17. How much older they were than Samuel is not known. According to the context he made them priests before they reached maturity. Estimates of Samuel’s age range from 3 to 15 years (see EGW, Supplementary Material, on 1 Sam. 1:20-28).

 When a child takes on some unusual responsibility, its parents many times seek thereby to gain advantage for themselves. Much credit must be given to Elkanah, who, though a Levite, continued his normal manner of life at Ramah. Knowing, as they surely did, the nature of the environment to which Samuel would be subjected, Elkanah and Hannah must have had some concern as they placed their gift to the Lord in the hands of Eli, and of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas How much greater must have been the concern of the divine Father as He placed His Son under the influence and scrutiny of the unworthy priests of His day. Christ was 12 years of age when He came to the attention of the priests, yet His conduct upon that occasion testifies to the reality of divine protection extended even to children who seek heavenly guidance (see on Luke 2:52). Samuel’s experiences testify to the same divine guidance.

 The Scriptures make clear that in the midst of this evil environment Samuel served the Lord. The word “minister” may refer to service, either secular or sacred. It is used of Joseph’s responsibilities in Potiphar’s house, and of Joshua’s assistance to Moses in the mount of God (Ex. 24:13). Samuel’s ability to withstand the evil influences that surrounded him, even as Joseph and Joshua did, may be attributed to his fixed decision to occupy himself with the things of God.