The Contrast of Sons

Leaving Samuel in the care of Eli, Hannah worshiped the Lord for His gracious response to her desperate prayer (1:11-18). She offered up the powerful and insightful praise of thanksgiving in the beautiful psalm recorded in the opening verses of chapter 2. In it she observed that Yahweh will judge His adversaries in order to strengthen His king. The narrative shifts in verse 11 from Hannah’s struggle resulting in the gift of Samuel to the divine purpose, the establishment of Israel’s judge and prophet in order to begin the process of the judgment predicted.

The next section (vv. 12-21) reveals the condition of the priesthood at that time. Eli has two sons who are described as “worthless men” (bâliyaʿal, something that does not conform to a right standard, so is of no worth, Prov. 6:12, 27; 19:28; Nahum 1:11; 2 Cor. 6:15; 2 Thess. 2:3). In this book, the expression first appeared in 1:16, which suggests that it was the general condition of the people. Like priest, like people.

The root of their condition was that “they did not know the Lord.” Their hearts were not set on seeking the Lord, understanding His will, or what it took to please Him. They were self- servers, seeking to satisfy their fleshly appetites. Notice the very next phrase, “The custom of the priests with the people was . . .” (v. 13). They did not know or care for what the Lord revealed or required concerning the priest’s portion of certain offerings. They took what they wanted, when and how it suited them. They had no regard for the Lord. The people even sought to caution them (v. 16). Yet, they rejected counsel and took the meat by force. “Thus, the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt” (v.17). Gluttony is the first of the sons’ sins that is condemned for which God’s wrath will fall on this corrupt family of the Aaronic priesthood, the descendants of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:27). Service to the Lord driven by selfish motives and desires shows no respect for the things of the Lord.

Samuel is contrasted with Eli’s sons in verses 18-21. This small section is bookended with two significant statements. First, Samuel is ministering “before Yahweh,” the narrator's way to highlight the contrast. Eli’s sons served themselves; Samuel served the Lord. His godly family is, then, set in stark contrast to Eli’s, and one can almost feel the storm brewing in the interaction between these two families. The section closes with Samuel’s growing up in Yahweh’s presence (21).

Eli’s (and all the priests’) responsibility was to walk with God (2:35), to render complete obedience to God (2:13), to discipline the flesh (2:29; 4:18), and to heed the warnings from God (2:27). Eli’s failure in these important areas was magnified in his sons. As has been said, what fathers tolerate in moderation, children practice in excess. A conviction in the first generation is an observation in the second generation but becomes a nuisance in the third. Oh, that God would keep us always a first-generation people.