What Does 1 Samuel 2:22 Mean in the King James?
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word for the women gathered at the tent’s entrance also names women serving at that same entrance elsewhere, placing the sons’ sexual misconduct inside their place of service.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks now wherever sexual misconduct happens in a sacred gathering and is known to someone with authority: the women are exposed, and the knowledge is present. Awareness by itself does not undo what is happening.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Religious status and sacred surroundings do not make sexual misconduct harmless or keep it from happening.
THE ROOT
הַצֹּבְאוֹת
hatzov’ot
GROWS FROM
צבא
tsava
To muster or gather as a host, and to serve in an organized body.
“assembled” in this verse is hatzov’ot. The root carries the sense of assembling for service, not simply being present. Exodus 38:8 uses the same word for women gathering at the tabernacle’s entrance, so this verse places the sons’ sexual misconduct among women identified with that place of service.
ALSO GROWS
tsava: A host, army, or organized service.
צָבָא
The root evokes a gathered body with a place or purpose, illuminating the women’s presence at the tent entrance.
tzeva’ot: Hosts or armies.
צְבָאוֹת
This related form preserves the image of an assembled body, linking the women’s gathering to the root’s wider sense of mustering.
שָׁמַע
shamaʿ
GROWS FROM
שמע
shamaʿ
To hear, listen, or heed.
“heard” in this verse is shamaʿ. The root family connects hearing with heeding, while this verse specifically reports what reaches Eli’s ears. That leaves a charged gap between knowing about harm and what follows from that knowledge.
ALSO GROWS
shemaʿ: Hear, listen, and respond.
שְׁמַע
This imperative form shows the root’s connection between hearing and response, sharpening the weight of Eli’s knowledge.
shemuʿah: A report or piece of news.
שְׁמוּעָה
This noun shows how something heard becomes known; here, the report concerns what the sons do to Israel and the women at the entrance.
THE PATTERN
Sacred space does not sanctify exploitation; scripture names harm inside it plainly.
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.THE THREAD
And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.The women at the tent entrance are described with the same צבא (tsava, gather or serve) root in both verses. Exodus names their gathering at the door; 1 Samuel places the sons’ sexual misconduct at that same threshold, revealing the violation within the community’s place of service.
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