1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2:1

B. Hannah’s Song (2:1-10)The devotedness of Elkanah’s wife and son stands out against the depravity of Eli’s family. After giving her son to the Lord, Hannah poured out her heart in thanksgiving. Her words reveal an in-depth knowledge of God, His character, and His deeds. The prayer seems to rebuke Peninnah for the many spiteful things she had said to Hannah, but it prophetically goes beyond this domestic squabble to the triumph of Israel over her foes and to the eventual reign of Christ. Mary’s song, often called the Magnificat (Luk_1:46-55), was obviously influenced by her knowledge of Hannah’s song.

1 Samuel 2:11

C. Eli and His Wicked Sons (2:11-36)2:11-17 The narrative now turns to Eli’s wicked sons. They did not know the LORD in the sense that they had not been saved by faith. Three sins are charged to them: They robbed the people of their share of the peace offering, not being satisfied with just the breast and thigh (cf. Lev_7:28-34). They demanded meat before the fat had been offered to God, thus shirking the law. Third, they wanted to roast the meat instead of boiling it, putting their own carnal appetites first. If anyone tried to protest, they took the meat . . . by force. Their sin . . . was very great because they treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. 2:18-21 In contrast to their wickedness was the devotedness of the child Samuel, and the faithfulness of Samuel’s parents to the yearly feasts. Since the firstfruits of Hannah’s womb had been dedicated to the Lord, she was blessed with three sons and two daughters. It is a good illustration of our Lord’s promise: “Give, and it shall be given to you.” 2:22-26 It wasn’t until Eli heard reports of immorality that he finally reproved his sons. But it was far too late for his mild verbal reproof to have any effect. They hardened their hearts and so were judicially hardened, like Pharaoh of old, for God had determined to destroy them. During this time Samuel was quietly growing, his purity and goodness pleasing both . . . the LORD and men. If we remember that these events took place during the time of the judges, it is not surprising that the priesthood failed to escape the moral decadence of the period. 2:27-36 The Lord’s rebuke of Eli was as harsh as Eli’s rebuke of his sons had been soft. An unnamed man of God appeared and announced the doom of Eli’s priestly . . . house. The prophet began by reviewing God’s call to Aaron’s family to be His priest, and His generous allowance of sacrificial meats for their sustenance. He then rebuked Eli for allowing his sons’ appetites to have priority over the claims of God (v. 29). The Lord’s previous promise of the perpetuity of the priesthood assumed that the priests would be men of good character. But because of the wickedness of Eli and his house, they would no longer be allowed to function in the priestly service; no member of his family would reach old age; the sanctuary at Shiloh would fall into decay; and Eli’s posterity would be a grief and a shame.

Furthermore, both . . . Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day as a sign that all these judgments would come to pass. The doom of Eli’s house was fulfilled in: The murder of Ahimelech and all his sons (except Abiathar) by Saul (v. 31; 1Sa_22:16-20); the expulsion of Abiathar from the priesthood by Solomon (vv. 32, 33; 1Ki_2:27); and the death of Hophni and Phinehas (v. 34; 1Sa_4:11). Eli was from the house of Ithamar, and when Abiathar was later removed by Solomon, the priesthood was restored to the house of Eleazar, where it should have been all along. Phinehas, the son of Eli, is not to be confused with Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron (Num_25:7-8). The faithful priest promised in verse 35 is Zadok, of the house of Eleazar, who ministered in the days of David and Solomon. His priesthood will endure, even during the Millennial Reign of Christ (Eze_44:15). But the descendants of Eli would desire the priest’s office not in order to serve the Lord, but simply to get something to eat (v. 36). Many see a Messianic allusion in the faithful priest of verse 35, partly in light of the word forever.