1 Samuel 2:22-26

1 Samuel 2:22-26

[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, 

What does 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The sons of Eli followed the example of Canaanite worship rather than the instruction of the Mosaic Law. Ritual prostitution was part of Canaanite worship, and Eli"s sons seem to have adopted this custom. [1] Even when their father confronted them with their sin, Eli"s sons refused to repent. Frequently old men demonstrate Wisdom of Solomon , but Eli was not wise enough to restrain the sinful behavior of his sons.
The women referred to were evidently volunteer helpers in the service of the sanctuary (cf. Exodus 38:8). The Hebrew word tsaba" also means "assembled," but here it probably means "served." Unintentional sin was pardonable under Mosaic Law, but highhanded, deliberately rebellious sin was not, particularly ritual prostitution (cf. Numbers 25:1-5; Deuteronomy 23:17; Amos 2:7-8). The punishment for highhanded sin was death ( Numbers 15:30). God initially judged Eli"s sons by giving them hard hearts as a result of their sin, before He brought final destruction on them (cf. Exodus 7:3; Romans 1:24).
Earlier in Israel"s history another Phinehas, the godly son of another priest, Eleazar, had executed an Israelite named Zimri and a Moabite woman named Cozbi for practicing sexual immorality in the tabernacle ( Numbers 25). Now this Phinehas, a priest and the son of another priest, Eli, was practicing sexual immorality in the tabernacle. How far the priests had departed from the Lord during the approximately300 years that separated these incidents!
While Eli"s sons were growing in disfavor with the Lord and the Israelites ( 1 Samuel 2:22-25), Samuel was growing in favor with both ( 1 Samuel 2:26; cf. Luke 2:52) because he was obeying God.