Verse 19:[1] Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
[And a little tunic] It signifies an outer garment, small, with regard had to the stature of the boy; for it was a long garment (Vatablus), with which he was dressed on solemn feast days (Vatablus, Munster); and his mother, after the days of the solemnity were passed, was carrying that home again (Munster). This appears to have been a common garment, of which he was also making use outside of sacred ministry. Thus it signifies that Hannah diligently provided for her son all things necessary for clothing; and she was bringing to him garments in which he was ministering in the temple, and of which he was making use outside the temple (Mendoza). His mother ought to have been no less solicitous concerning other garments, which were not appearing to be acquired at the expense of the Priest, than of an Ephod, which the Levites were receiving at no cost from the tabernacle (Sanchez).
A little coat, suitable to his age and stature, to be worn ordinarily; for coats were their usual garments. See Genesis 3:21; 37:3; 2 Samuel 15:32; Song of Solomon 5:3; Daniel 3:21; Luke 3:11; 9:3. Knowing that he could not yet do much service, she would not have him too burdensome to the tabernacle, and therefore she yearly provided him with a coat, which was the chief and upper garment; and under that his other garments possibly are comprehended.
[She was bringing on the established days, מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ יָמִ֑ימָה[2]] From days to days (Montanus, Septuagint); from the time of the solemnity to the solemnity (Jonathan); annually, or from year to year (Pagnine, Junius and Tremellius, Dutch, English, Drusius, Munster). Not only once in a year did she bring a tunic, but as often as she was coming up with her husband, etc. (Mendoza). Since she was coming up, she was always making for him a new little cloak; she so loved him (Drusius).
[So that she might burn the solemn sacrifice, אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִֽים׃]The sacrifice of days (Montanus, Septuagint), or of solemnities (Jonathan), or annual (Drusius, Pagnine, Junius and Tremellius, Dutch, English).
[1] Hebrew: וּמְעִ֤יל קָטֹן֙ תַּעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣וֹ אִמּ֔וֹ וְהַעַלְתָ֥ה ל֖וֹ מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ יָמִ֑ימָה בַּֽעֲלוֹתָהּ֙ אֶת־אִישָׁ֔הּ לִזְבֹּ֖חַ אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִֽים׃ [2] 1 Samuel 2:19: “Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year (מִיָּמִ֣ים׀ יָמִ֑ימָה), when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly (הַיָּמִים) sacrifice.”
George Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling: 'If the husband sometimes calls to prayer, the wife calls, it may be, to work, or to some foolish pleasure. If the wife, as the Shunammite to the man of God, for the enlivening of her dead son, would go to hear the word of the Lord, for the recovery of her dying soul, and asketh her husband leave, he is as backward as the father of that child, though upon a far worse ground, possibly; Wherefore wilt thou go? to what purpose is so much preaching? I warrant you, you may be saved without so much ado, 2 Kings 4:23. Thus many that are unequally yoked, like horses in a team that draw contrar…
William Gouge's Domestical Duties: 'The care of an husband for his wife in this respect is, so to order his habitation, and provide other needful things, as his wife may be made partaker thereof. It is expressly noted of Elkanah that he so provided for his wives, that they went with him every year to the house of God: [1 Samuel 1:7; 2:19] the like is intimated of Joseph the husband of the virgin Mary. [Luke 2:41] In those days there was a public place and house of God, whither all God's people (how far soever they dwelt from it) were to resort every year: the places where Elkanah and Joseph dwelt, were far remote from the house of God…
Matthew Henry: 'They kept up their constant attendance at the house of God with their yearly sacrifice, 1 Samuel 2:19. They did not think that their son's ministering there would excuse them, or that that offering must serve instead of other offerings; but, having found the benefit of drawing near to God, they would omit no appointed season for it, and now they had one loadstone more in Shiloh to draw them thither. We may suppose they went thither to see their child oftener than once a year, for it was not ten miles from Ramah; but their annual visit is taken notice of because then they brought their yearly sacrifice, and then Hannah fitted up her son (and som…