1Sa 2:11-36 | KingComments | STEP | Samuel is always called “boy”. This indicates the contrast with the adults around him. It also indicates that God begins something new with what is not deemed in the world. He hides His plans “from [the] wise and intelligent” and reveals “them to infants” ( ). The Spirit shows the development of the child Samuel into an adult man and servant in a religious and at the same time wicked environment. That can only be God’s work. Samuel is formed in the hidden. He does not serve Eli before the LORD’s face, but he serves the LORD under Eli’s supervision. He may even be dependent in his very young years on the care of the women with whom Eli’s sons sleep. Eli’s sons are “worthless men” or “men of Belial”, that is, they have nothing in common with Christ ( ). In these two priests we see how external presence with God, without knowing Him, results in the worst deviation from Him. A holiness that is only external is the worst unholiness. Eli’s sons act as if there is no God. Their behavior caused men to despise the offering of the LORD and to no longer take heed of God’s precepts. God has provided in the law for priests to receive their share of the peace offering ( ). However, Eli’s sons are not satisfied with this. They do not care about that. Not only do they take much more than they are entitled to, but they also take it even before God has received His share. It is a display of power and an expression of iniquity and arrogance of the coarsest kind. Today we see this happening when the church takes away of the people belonging to God’s people what God is entitled to. We see it in church leaders who enrich themselves at the expense of the church people. In such a situation, people are needed who give God His part again as the first Rightsholder. Do we take the best for ourselves and should God settle for the leftovers? Someone of the people who comes to sacrifice knows the law and speaks to these corrupt priests about it. He points out that the fat must first be sacrificed ( ). The priest’s servant does not care about this. He was given his command by the priest, and he follows it closely. That also gives him the most benefit. He even threatens with violence if the offeror does not give what the priest demands. This performance gives a picture of the service to God that is considered a very great sin. The representatives of God present Him as a violent, greedy God. The result is that people no longer take the sacrifice seriously. Here we can learn the lesson that a misrepresentation of Who God is will lead to a despising of the Lord Jesus and His work.

‏ 1 Samuel 2:11-36

Samuel and the Sons of Eli

Samuel is always called “boy”. This indicates the contrast with the adults around him. It also indicates that God begins something new with what is not deemed in the world. He hides His plans “from [the] wise and intelligent” and reveals “them to infants” (Mt 11:25).

The Spirit shows the development of the child Samuel into an adult man and servant in a religious and at the same time wicked environment. That can only be God’s work. Samuel is formed in the hidden. He does not serve Eli before the LORD’s face, but he serves the LORD under Eli’s supervision. He may even be dependent in his very young years on the care of the women with whom Eli’s sons sleep.

Eli’s sons are “worthless men” or “men of Belial”, that is, they have nothing in common with Christ (2Cor 6:15a). In these two priests we see how external presence with God, without knowing Him, results in the worst deviation from Him. A holiness that is only external is the worst unholiness. Eli’s sons act as if there is no God. Their behavior caused men to despise the offering of the LORD and to no longer take heed of God’s precepts.

God has provided in the law for priests to receive their share of the peace offering (Lev 7:34). However, Eli’s sons are not satisfied with this. They do not care about that. Not only do they take much more than they are entitled to, but they also take it even before God has received His share. It is a display of power and an expression of iniquity and arrogance of the coarsest kind.

Today we see this happening when the church takes away of the people belonging to God’s people what God is entitled to. We see it in church leaders who enrich themselves at the expense of the church people. In such a situation, people are needed who give God His part again as the first Rightsholder. Do we take the best for ourselves and should God settle for the leftovers?

Someone of the people who comes to sacrifice knows the law and speaks to these corrupt priests about it. He points out that the fat must first be sacrificed (Lev 3:3-5 ; 16). The priest’s servant does not care about this. He was given his command by the priest, and he follows it closely. That also gives him the most benefit. He even threatens with violence if the offeror does not give what the priest demands.

This performance gives a picture of the service to God that is considered a very great sin. The representatives of God present Him as a violent, greedy God. The result is that people no longer take the sacrifice seriously. Here we can learn the lesson that a misrepresentation of Who God is will lead to a despising of the Lord Jesus and His work.

Samuel Ministers Before the Lord

After the description of the wickedness of the priestly sons, we see here again the true servant. Although Samuel does not belong to the priestly family, he is the true priest. His purity in the impure surroundings comes to the fore. Samuel’s behavior contrasts sharply with that of Eli’s sons.

The linen ephod is a linen garment worn by priests (1Sam 22:18). David also wears it once when he brings the ark to Zion (2Sam 6:14). David is a king-priest. Purity and priestly mind belong together. Samuel does not belong to Aaron’s family, but he lives in God’s presence and can pass on God’s thoughts as a prophet.

Growth

When Elkanah and Hannah are going to make the annual sacrifice, Hannah always brings a little robe to Samuel. This means that his mother is busy with his growth. Every year she takes the right size with her. She knows his growth. Do we know the spiritual growth of our children? Parents must have something for every spiritual age.

Hannah is always busy with Samuel’s clothes. In the same way a mother is always busy forming the character of her children, especially by her example. The children see how she behaves, what she says and how she says something, and what her dealings with the Lord are like. Thus, children will become kind or rough, interested in the things of the Lord or indifferent to them in accordance with the example they have seen in the life of their elders.

In the meantime, Eli has understood that Elkanah and Hannah are special to the LORD, because the LORD is special to them. He pronounces His blessing upon them. He will have done so now with more insight than before (1Sam 1:17). The family of Elkanah is increasing. Hannah gets a total of six children, a rich blessing. She gets more than what she prayed forthat for which she prayed. This is how God often acts.

Meanwhile Samuel grows before the LORD, that is, close to Him in the sanctuary and under His protection and blessing. If the heart is directed toward the Lord, as is the case with Samuel, we will grow spiritually “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pet 3:18a), even though the environment is still so wicked.

Eli Rebukes His Sons

Eli’s sons are only out to satisfy their lusts. They seek the satisfaction of their stomach (cf. Phil 3:19a). The step from physical satisfaction to the satisfaction of their sexual lusts is easily made. Those who cannot control themselves with food, often cannot control themselves in sexuality. Eli’s sons can no longer escape judgment after they have misbehaved themselves like this.

Eli admonishes his sons about their behavior, but his admonition comes too late. Partly because of his weak performance they have hardened their hearts. Now the time of conversion is over. Eli does not know the thoughts of God and therefore continues to act in his weak way. He is behind the facts.

The LORD had to make the decision to kill them. This decision is irrevocable because they irrevocably hold on to evil and despise every exhortation. It goes with Eli’s sons as it did with Pharaoh, who also first hardened his own heart (Exo 7:13 ; 14 ; 22 ; Exo 8:15 ; 19 ; 32 ; Exo 9:7 ; 34 ; Exo 13:15) and whose heart is hardened by God afterward (Exo 9:12 ; Exo 10:1 ; 20 ; 27 ; Exo 11:10 ; Exo 14:4 ; 8 ; 17).

Samuel Grows in Stature

If the spiritual darkness increases, the light of God shines the clearer. Samuel grows against the oppression. The LORD and men rejoice more and more the more they see of Samuel’s fear of God (cf. Lk 2:52). His life is a blessing for all who encounter him. It is striking how much he is different from Eli’s wicked sons.

A Man of God Comes to Eli

An anonymous man of God is sent to Eli. When the man of God speaks of “the house of your father”, he means Aaron’s house. He opposes this to “Pharaoh’s house”, which is the house of slavery, where the people have served Pharaoh and his interests. With this he reminds Eli of his origins.

Then the man of God speaks of the electing grace of God that He called Aaron and his house to the priesthood. He also points to God’s gracious provisions for priests. Everything He has given makes their sin to want more and more a contempt for all those abundant gifts of God (cf. 2Sam 12:8-9).

The LORD holds Eli responsible for despising “My sacrifice and … My offering” because he did not act against his sons. In the accusation that Eli is being made, it is also said that he has made himself fat with the choicest of every offering. That much the actions of his sons are also attributed to him.

Although he has reprimanded his sons, indicating that he has insight into their wrongdoing, he has not stopped their wrongdoing. Eli’s lack of action has contributed to the contempt that the people have gotten for the sacrifice and service to the LORD. He has honored his sons more than the LORD. Every father has the danger of choosing for his son if he must choose between him and God. Let fathers follow the example of Abraham, who did not kindly ask his children, but commanded them “to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice” (Gen 18:19).

Judgment on Eli’s house

To despise the sacrifice (1Sam 2:29) is the same as to despise God. The consequences of this are serious. God cannot give what He promised (Jer 18:9-10). Is God now going back to His promise and contradicting Himself? It cannot be and it is not.

God has promised Aaron’s house that it will always serve Him. Aaron had four sons. Two are killed by the LORD (Lev 10:1-2). Of the two remaining, Ithamar and Eleazar, Eleazar succeeds Aaron. Eleazar is followed by Phinehas. That has become the line of the priesthood in Israel. However, something has happened – what it is, cannot be inferred from the Scriptures – by which the line of the priesthood has been transferred to Ithamar. Eli does not originate from the line of Eleazar, but from the line of Ithamar. By his unfaithfulness to the LORD, the promise made to Aaron is taken away from Ithamar.

The promise of a reliable priest will be fulfilled in Zadok (Eze 44:15), who becomes a high priest at the time of David. Zadok comes from the line of Eleazar (1Chr 6:3-8). God always fulfill His promises in a way that shows He did it.

God will break the strength of Eli and his whole family. His offspring will die young. Eli will experience it in his time that the LORD’s dwelling will be in distress. He will experience this when the ark is captured by the Philistines (1Sam 4:10-11; Psa 78:59-61). Later Shiloh is destroyed, and the ark is totally gone, captured by the enemies (Jer 7:12 ; Jer 26:6). The few years Eli will live will be an affliction because of what is foretold to him here. Always the thought of this judgment will occupy him. His last years of life he will know no joy.

The man of God also tells him the death of both his sons. Here their names are mentioned. Phinehas bears the same name as a former family member. That member of the family, however, has behaved faithful to the LORD when sin has entered the people (Num 25:7-13). That Phinehas was the son of Eleazar.

God Will Raise Up a Faithful Priest

After the announcements of judgment in the previous verses now follows a promise of the LORD. It is based on nothing but His own sovereign purpose. He Himself will appoint a faithful, reliable priest. “Faithful” contrasts sharply with the unfaithfulness of Eli and his sons.

First , we can apply this to Samuel. Then it is also of application to Zadok, who will become a priest instead of Abiathar. Abiathar is the last descendant of Eli’s house. Solomon deprives him of the priesthood (1Kgs 2:26-27). It is taken from Abiathar because he is in connection with Adonijah who has proclaimed himself king (1Kgs 1:7), while Zadok does not participate in it (1Kgs 1:8). Above all, it applies to the Lord Jesus as the King-Priest.

The “enduring house” is the house of David (1Sam 25:28). The “anointed” often refers to the priest, but here it is the king according to God’s thoughts. The priest will walk before the anointed king. We see this in this book, where the emphasis is on the king after God’s heart. The priesthood is exercised in the presence of the kingship. The Lord Jesus is both. He is both King and Priest. In Him the kingship and priesthood unite completely. In Him it is as God purposed.

The Remnant of Eli’s House

What this verse says we see in Abiathar, who will serve David (1Sam 22:20 ; 1Sam 23:9 ; 1Sam 30:7). He represents all those who escape judgment. They will depend on the grace of the new priest. They will appeal to that grace.