“Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe. She would take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say. ‘May Yahweh repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to Yahweh.’ Then they would return to their home.”
Samuel stayed at Shiloh and grew up there. He had a small robe or ephod. This ephod was explained in Exodus, chapters 28 and 39. Each year Hannah would bring a new robe for him. Eli liked this and blessed Hannah with the hope that she would have more children.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 