1 Samuel 2:27-36

[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.

What is the context of 1 Samuel 2:27-36?

What does 1 Samuel 2:27-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The rest of the chapter explains why God would put Eli"s sons to death ( 1 Samuel 2:25). The specific criticism that the man of God (a prophet, cf. 1 Samuel 9:9-10) directed against Eli and his sons was two-fold. They had not appreciated God"s grace extended to them in the Exodus deliverance nor the opportunity to serve Him as priests ( 1 Samuel 2:27-29). "Kick at" (NASB, 1 Samuel 2:29; cf. Deuteronomy 32:15) means to "scorn" (NIV, Heb. ba"at). It is a serious matter to undervalue the grace of God. God had initiated blessing, but they had not responded appropriately, namely, with gratitude, trust, and obedience. Eli"s guilt ( 1 Samuel 2:29) lay in his failure to rebuke his sons severely for their sin ( 1 Samuel 3:13), though he did warn them of God"s judgment ( 1 Samuel 2:25). He also enjoyed the fruits of their disobedient worship ( 1 Samuel 2:13-16). Had Eli grown fat from eating the best portions that his sons extorted from the people (cf. 1 Samuel 4:18)?

Many students of this book have identified 1 Samuel 2:30 as its key verse because it articulates the principle that the books of Samuel illustrate. Every section of1,2Samuel demonstrates the truth of this statement.

God"s judgment on Eli and his sons was that He would dishonor them. God had promised that Levi"s descendants would serve Him forever as priests, namely, as long as Israel existed as a sovereign nation ( Exodus 29:9; Numbers 25:13). Now God revealed that He would cut off Eli"s branch of the Levitical family tree. Eli was a descendant of Levi through Levi"s son Ithamar. His descendants ceased to function as priests when Solomon dismissed Abiathar as high priest. Abiathar escaped the slaughter of the priests at Nob ( 1 Samuel 22:17-20), but Solomon defrocked him because he supported Adonijah ( 1 Kings 2:27; 1 Kings 2:35).

The faithful priest God promised to raise up ( 1 Samuel 2:35) was initially Samuel ( 1 Samuel 3:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Samuel 7:9; 1 Samuel 9:2-13). Zadok, a descendant of Levi"s son Eleazar, replaced Abiathar as high priest in Solomon"s day ( 1 Kings 2:35). ^[1] The Lord"s anointed ( 1 Samuel 2:35) was the king of Israel. One of his descendants would be Messiah. Ezekiel 44:15; Ezekiel 48:11 refer to the continuing ministry of Zadok"s descendants when Messiah reigns in His future millennial kingdom. ^[2] 1 Samuel 2:36 evidently continues to describe the fate of Eli"s descendants after God deposed Abiathar. ^[3]

Notice the chiastic (crossing) structure of chapter2that focuses on Eli"s blessing of Samuel"s parents.

"A.The song of Hannah, concluding with reference to the Lord"s anointed ( 1 Samuel 2:1-10)B.Samuel ministers before the Lord ( 1 Samuel 2:11)C.The sins of Eli"s sons ( 1 Samuel 2:12-17)D.Samuel ministers before the Lord ( 1 Samuel 2:18-19)E.Eli blesses Samuel"s parents ( 1 Samuel 2:20-21 a)D."Samuel grows in the Lord"s presence ( 1 Samuel 2:21 b)C."The sins of Eli"s sons ( 1 Samuel 2:22-25)B."Samuel grows in the Lords" presence ( 1 Samuel 2:26)A."The oracles of the man of God, concluding with reference to the Lord"s anointed ( 1 Samuel 2:27-36)" ^[4]

This section reveals the importance and power of parental influence, though this is not the primary lesson. Eli had placed more importance on his sons" personal preferences than he had on God"s preferences; he had honored them more than Him ( 1 Samuel 2:29). Consequently they became worthless men ( 1 Samuel 2:12) whom God finally killed prematurely. Hannah, on the other hand, encouraged her Song of Solomon , Samuel, to value the service of God. Consequently he developed into a godly man whom God and other people honored and respected ( 1 Samuel 2:26). Eli"s sons despised God and abused other people ( 1 Samuel 2:17; 1 Samuel 2:22). Samuel feared God and became a great blessing to other people.

This chapter also shows that godly influence can be more powerful than ungodly influence and can overcome many natural obstacles. God enabled Hannah to influence Samuel for good even though she seldom saw him, lived miles from him, and could not prevent the daily wicked influence of Eli"s sons over him. Her previous dedication of him to the Lord was undoubtedly a factor in her success. Other important factors were her continuing encouragement to serve God and her prayers for Samuel.

God has not blessed with godly offspring all parents who have had the same desires for their children that Hannah did. Children are responsible for their own decisions as they grow up ( Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 18:20). Some choose to turn away from the Lord. Nevertheless this story shows what can happen. Children can grow up in an ungodly environment away from their parents" personal supervision and still become godly. The influence of a wise and godly parent can overcome many other ungodly influences in a child"s life.