The Sons of Eli

Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were engaged in priestly functions, but who were not really priests at heart. They were actually, faithless, corrupt men. We are told in verse 12 that “they knew not the Lord.” They used their priestly office for personal profit and immoral gratification. They stole from those who came to offer sacrifices, and verses 15 and 16 indicate that, instead of burning the fat of the sacrifices, as the law demanded, they forcibly took the fat for their own use. Thus they gave a bad name to the Tabernacle services. As a result, honest men began to have a contempt for the holy sacrifices. This situation was very displeasing to God. So we read in the 17th verse: “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.”

The people complained to Eli. He knew what his sons were doing, and he told them rather mildly to stop their evil practices. But he did not insist upon it. He did not remove them from office, as he should have done. He had more regard for his sons than he had for the law of God. His sons continued their evil course. Then a man of God was sent to Eli with a message telling him that both his sons had been condemned, and would die for their transgressions, and that Eli himself would be removed from the priesthood for his neglect. From then on, the Lord no longer communicated through Eli, neither by vision nor by Urim and Thummim. Thus the Word of the Lord became a rare thing in those days.

Now we come to the charming narrative of how the Lord began to communicate with Israel through the boy Samuel, indicating that he was to be the prophet of God. We read from the Revised Version, starting with 1 Samuel 3:1:

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days. There was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, `Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said `Here I am!’ And ran to Eli, and said, `Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said `I did not call, my son, lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, `Samuel!’ And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said `Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said `I did not call, my son, lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again, the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, `Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, `Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, Speak Lord, for thy servant hears.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, `Samuel! –Samuel!’ And Samuel said, `Speak, for thy servant hears.’“

A mighty angel appeared before the wondering eyes of Samuel, and then the great God of heaven clothed that little boy with the awesome dignity of a prophet of the Lord, by entrusting him with the final message of condemnation to Eli and his house.

Samuel could sleep no more that night, and the next day he was troubled in mind, as he went about his duties. He loved Eli, and could not bring himself to tell him the Lord’s message of condemnation. But Eli insisted himself upon knowing every word of it. So we read in 1 Samuel 3:18:

“And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good.”