שמואל א, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״א

The moment of parting at Shiloh marks the beginning of Samuel’s independent journey. While his family returns to their daily routine, the young boy remains in the Tabernacle to pave his spiritual path under the care of the High Priest. Elkanah travels back to his home, which most commentators understand simply as a physical return alongside his wife, Hannah [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, this return also represents a shift back to domestic affairs. Seeing that Samuel was thriving and showing great dedication to his studies, Elkanah felt confident leaving him behind to resume managing his family's business [אלשיך, רלב״ג].

Left in the Tabernacle, Samuel begins his service to God. Due to his young age, he was not yet capable of performing major duties, so his role primarily involved assisting Eli with various supporting tasks [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, the essence of this service was profoundly educational. Because his parents had given him over for the sake of God, Eli effectively stepped into the role of a father. The High Priest took it upon himself to raise the boy, guiding him in the ways of the Torah and divine service [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Since the youth could not yet fully comprehend deep spiritual concepts, his daily efforts were practically directed toward Eli, even though the ultimate purpose was always to serve God [אברבנאל].

This dynamic highlights a deep connection between serving God and serving a spiritual leader, as Samuel's work was done directly in Eli's presence [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The primary approach among commentators is that attending to Torah scholars is equivalent to serving the Divine Presence. By standing before Eli with humility and awe, eager to learn, Samuel’s actions were viewed as if he were serving God Himself [רש״י, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל, חומת אנך]. Furthermore, the face of a righteous person radiates divine holiness. By spending time in Eli's presence and looking at him with a pure desire to learn, Samuel was actively clinging to God, earning spiritual assistance to truly understand the Torah [אלשיך, חומת אנך].