20140319 Wednesday, March 19 2014
1 Samuel 02: The Prophecy Of The House Of Eli

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in Mine Heart and in My Mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) had chosen Hannah to be the mother of a servant of the LORD at and for a specific time (see also The Mothers Of The Two Greatest Prophets). Samuel was that servant - as Hannah became well-aware (see 1 Samuel 1: Hannah's Dedication Of Samuel).

"2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said,

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest." (1 Samuel 2:1-11 KJV)

Hannah's dedication of Samuel did not mean that she never saw him again. Hannah regularly saw Samuel for the rest of her life, at Shiloh and at Ramah (see also Naioth In Ramah). Moreover, after the birth of Samuel, the LORD further blessed Hannah with all of the children that she wanted - "three sons and two daughters."

"2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod [see also Linen In History And Prophecy]. 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters.

And the child Samuel grew before the LORD." (1 Samuel 2:18-21 KJV)

Shiloh was a city located about 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) north of Jerusalem. After the Israelites crossed the Jordan in the time of Joshua (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Joshua), the Tabernacle (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Tabernacle) and the Ark of the Covenant (see also Turning The Tables) were established at Shiloh. The Tabernacle and the Ark remained there for the entire era of the Judges (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Judges), approximately three centuries.

Eli had served as both High Priest and Judge of Israel near the end of the Judges era of Israel's history. There would be only one more Judge of Israel after Eli, Samuel, before Israel's human monarchy began with Saul and David (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Saul and David). The primary reason for Samuel's calling to carry on Eli's responsibilities was because Eli's two sons, who would otherwise have succeeded their father, were arrogant and corrupt. It would be the cause of the fall of the house of Eli.

"2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 2:14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

2:16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 2:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 2:24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." (1 Samuel 2:12-26 KJV)

Samuel's calling was for a purpose. Samuel would eventually continue the service of the LORD that Eli's sons would have maintained, if not for their corruption - that Eli's weakness in correcting, or removing them, produced. God's servants must not only be righteous; they must be strong, whatever the cost (see Do You Want A Servant Or A Serpent?). Eli merely asked (pleaded, actually) his sons to stop doing evil, then permitted them to continue when they ignored him. Samuel grew up watching the pathetic spectacle of a high priest who had become weak, and the liberal behavior of his wicked sons, one of whom would have assumed the position of high priest, if the LORD had permitted it. The judgment from the LORD was delivered to Eli by "a man of God" who was strong (keeping in mind that Eli was still both the high priest and judge of Israel - but not for much longer). The LORD then declared Samuel's purpose to Eli, as well as a prophecy of the destruction of the house and line of Eli.

"2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 2:33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

2:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 2:36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread." (1 Samuel 2;27-36 KJV)

Fact Finder: How did the LORD's rejection of the house of Eli restore the original line of the priesthood?
See The Lines Of Eleazar and Ithamar