1 Samuel 2:22-36

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours.

24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the LORD’s people is not good.

25 If one person sins against another, God^[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the LORD’s will to put them to death.

26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

27 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?

28 I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites.

29 Why do you^[b] scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

30 “Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,

32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.

33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

34 “ ‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day.

35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.

36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.” ’ ”

1 Samuel 2:22-36 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 2

In this chapter the song of Hannah is recorded, 1Sa 2:1-10, and an account is given of the return of Elkanah and Hannah to their own home, and of the care she took yearly to provide a coat for Samuel, and of her being blessed with many other children, and of the growth and ministry of Samuel before the Lord, 1Sa 2:11,18-21,26, and of the wickedness of the sons of Eli, 1Sa 2:12-17, and of Eli's too gentle treatment of them when he reproved them for it, 1Sa 2:22-25 and of a sharp message sent him from the Lord on that account, threatening destruction to his house, of which the death of his two sons would be a sign, 1Sa 2:27-36.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 17
• 2. S Exodus 38:8
• 3. Exodus 4:21; Numbers 15:30; Joshua 11:20
• 4. S Exodus 32:10; S Numbers 11:2; Deuteronomy 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:14; 1 Kings 13:6; Job 9:33; Psalms 106:30; Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 22:14; Jeremiah 15:1; Hebrews 10:26
• 5. ver 21; S Judges 13:24; Luke 2:52
• 6. Proverbs 3:4
• 7. S Deuteronomy 33:1; S Judges 13:6; Exodus 4:14-16; 1 Kings 13:1
• 8. S Exodus 28:1
• 9. S Exodus 30:7
• 10. 1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Samuel 23:6,9; 1 Samuel 30:7; Leviticus 8:7-8
• 11. Leviticus 7:35-36
• 12. ver 12-17
• 13. S Deuteronomy 12:5; Matthew 10:37
• 14. S Exodus 29:9
• 15. Psalms 50:23; Psalms 91:15; Proverbs 8:17
• 16. Isaiah 53:3; Nahum 3:6; Malachi 2:9
• 17. Jeremiah 18:10
• 18. 1 Samuel 4:11-18; 1 Samuel 22:16; 1 Samuel 22:16-20
• 19. 1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 22:17-20; Jeremiah 7:12,14
• 20. 1 Kings 2:26-27; Zechariah 8:4
• 21. Jeremiah 29:32; Malachi 2:12
• 22. S Deuteronomy 13:2
• 23. 1 Samuel 4:11
• 24. 1 Kings 13:3
• 25. 1 Samuel 12:3; 2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 1:8,32; 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Kings 4:4; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 29:22; Ezekiel 44:15-16
• 26. 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4; 2 Samuel 12:7; 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Kings 1:34; Psalms 89:20; 2 Samuel 7:11,27; 1 Kings 11:38
• 27. Ezekiel 44:10-14
• 28. 1 Samuel 3:12; 1 Kings 2:27

Footnotes

• [a] Or "the judges"
• [b] The Hebrew is plural.