1 Samuel 2:12-36

1 Samuel 2:12-36

[12] Now the sons  of Eli  were sons  of Belial;  they knew  not the LORD.  [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;  [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. [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.  [16] And if any man  said  unto him, Let them not fail  the fat  presently,  and then take  as much as thy soul  then he would answer  him, Nay; but thou shalt give  it me now: and if not, I will take  it by force.  [17] Wherefore the sin  of the young men  was very  great  before  the LORD:  for men  abhorred  the offering  of the LORD.  [18] But Samuel  ministered  before  the LORD,  being a child,  girded  with a linen  ephod.  [19] Moreover his mother  made  him a little  coat,  and brought  it to him from year  when she came up  with her husband  to offer  the yearly  sacrifice.  [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.  [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.  [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.  [23] And he said  unto them, Why do  ye such things?  for I hear  of your evil  dealings  by all this people.  [24] Nay, my sons;  for it is no good  report  that I hear:  ye make the LORD'S  people  to transgress.  [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. [26] And the child  Samuel  grew  on,  and was in favour  both with the LORD,  [27] And there came  a man  of God  unto Eli,  and said  the LORD,  Did I plainly  unto the house  of thy father,  when they were in Egypt  in Pharaoh's  house?  [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?  [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?  [30] Wherefore the LORD  God  of Israel  saith,  I said  that thy house,  of thy father,  should walk  before  me for  ever:  but now the LORD  saith,  Be it far from me;  for them that honour  and they that despise  me shall be lightly esteemed.  [31] Behold, the days  come,  that I will cut off  thine arm,  of thy father's  house,  that there shall not be an old man  in thine house.  [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.  [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  [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. [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.  [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.