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CHAPTER 2 : The Sin of Eli's Sons - Eli's Weakness - A Prophet's
Message -Samuel's First Vision - His Call to the Prophetic Office. (1
SAMUEL 2:12-3:21)
QUITE another scene now opens before us, and one which, as it shows the
corruptness of the priestly family, also argues a very low religious state among the
people.^29 The high-priest Eli was "very old,"^30 and the administration of the
sanctuary was left in the hands of his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The energy,
amounting almost to severity, which, even in his old age, Eli could display, as in his
undeserved reproof of Hannah, was certainly not exercised towards his sons. They
were "sons of Belial," and, "knew not Jehovah" in His character and claims.^31 Their
conduct was scandalous even in a decrepid age, and the unblushing frankness of
their vices led "the people of the Lord to transgress," by "bringing into contempt"^32
the sacrificial services of the sanctuary.
The main element of hope and the prospect of a possible revival lay in the close
adherence of the people to these services. But the sons of Eli seemed determined to
prove that these ordinances were mainly designed for the advantage of the
priesthood, and therefore not holy, of Divine significance, and unalterably fixed.
Contrary to the Divine institution, "the priest's right," as he claimed it,^33 was to take,
if necessary by force, parts of the sacrifices before these had really been offered unto
the Lord (Leviticus 3:3- 5; comp. 7:30-34).
Nor was this all. The open immorality of the high-priest's sons was as notorious as
their profanity.^34 The only step which the aged high-priest took to put an end to such
scandals was mild expostulation, the truisms of which had only so far value as they
expressed it, that in offenses between man and man, Elohim would, through the
magistracy, restore the proper balance, but who was to do that when the sin was
against Jehovah? Such remonstrances could, of course, produce no effect upon men
so seared in conscience as to be already under sentence of judicial hardening (ver.
25).
But other and more terrible judgments were at hand. They were solemnly announced
to Eli by a prophet (comp. Judges 13:6), since by his culpable weakness he shared
the guilt of his sons. As so often in His dealings with His own people, the Lord
condescended to reason, not only to exhibit the rightness of His ways, but to lay
down principles for all time for the guidance of His church. Had He not dealt in
special grace with the house of Aaron? He had honored it at the first by special
revelation; He had singled it out for the privilege of ministering unto Him at the
altar; for the still higher function of presenting in the incense the prayers of His
people; and for that highest office of "wearing the ephod" in the solemn mediatorial
(^)