Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 2:5

"They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased [to hunger]: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth." — 1 Samuel 2:5 (ASV)

See an instance in 1 Samuel 2:36. See, too, in Ezekiel 13:19, another example of hire paid in bread.

Ceased — that is, they were at rest and did no work. The general sense is expressed by the translation of the Latin Version: “they were filled.”