1 Samuel 2:12-17
Verse 12. The sons of Eli were sons of Belial] They were perverse, wicked, profligate men; devil's children. They knew not the Lord. "THEY know! nor would an angel show Him; They would not know, nor choose to know Him." These men were the principal cause of all the ungodliness of Israel. Their most execrable conduct, described 1Sa 2:13-17, caused the people to abhor the Lord's offering. An impious priesthood is the grand cause of the transgressions and ruin of any nation; witness France, Germany, Spain, Ac., from 1792 to 1814. Verse 13. When any man offered sacrifice] That is, when a peace-offering was brought, the right shoulder and the breast belonged to the priest, the fat was burnt upon the altar, and the blood was poured at the bottom of the altar; the rest of the flesh belonged to the offerer. Under pretence of taking only their own part, they took the best of all they chose, and as much as they chose. Verse 14. Kettle-caldron, or pot] We know not what these were, nor of what capacity; nor is it of any consequence. Verse 15. Before they burnt the fat] They would serve themselves before GOD was served! This was iniquity and arrogance of the first magnitude. He will not have sodden flesh] He chooses roast meat, not boiled; and if they had it in the pot before the servant came, he took it out that it might be roasted. Verse 17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great] That is, Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli. Men abhorred the offering] As the people saw that the priests had no piety, and that they acted as if there was no God; they despised God's service, and became infidels. A national priesthood, when the foundation is right, may be a great blessing; but if the priesthood becomes corrupt, though the foundation itself stand sure, the corruption of the national manners will be the unavoidable consequence. 1 Samuel 2:22-25
Verse 22. They lay with the women that assembled] It is probable that these were persons who had some employment about the tabernacle. See Clarke on Ex 38:8, where the Hebrew text is similar to that in this place. Verse 23. Why do ye such things!] Eli appears to have been a fondly affectionate, easy father, who wished his sons to do well, but did not bring them under proper discipline, and did not use his authority to restrain them. As judge, he had power to cast them immediately out of the vineyard, as wicked and unprofitable servants; this he did not, and his and their ruin was the consequence. Verse 25. If one man sin against another] All differences between man and man may be settled by the proper judge; but if a man sin against the Supreme Judge, God himself, who shall reconcile him to his Maker? Your sin is immediately against God himself, and is the highest insult that can be offered, because it is in the matter of his own worship, therefore ye may expect his heaviest judgments. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?] This was a question of the most solemn importance under the old covenant, especially after the death of Moses, the mediator. The law had determined what sins should be punished with death; and it was supposed that there was not any appeal from the decision there pronounced. 1Jo 2:1 is an answer to this question; but it is an answer which the Gospel alone can give: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not; but if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Because the Lord would slay them.] The particle ki, which we translate because, and thus make their continuance in sin the effect of God's determination to destroy them, should be translated therefore, as it means in many parts of the sacred writings. See Noldius's Particles, where the very text in question is introduced: Sed non auscultarunt, &c., IDEO voluit Jehova eos interficere; "But they would not hearken, &c.; THEREFORE God purposed to destroy them." It was their not hearkening that induced the Lord to will their destruction.
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