Eli's Worthless Sons

1 Samuel 2

¹² Now the sons of Eli were _a corrupt; _{1 b} they did not know the LORD. ¹³ And the priests' custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. ¹⁴ Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in _c Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. ¹⁵ Also, before they _d burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw." ¹⁶ And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force." ¹⁷ Therefore the sin of the young men was very great _e before the LORD, for men _f abhorred ₂ the offering of the LORD.

¹⁸ _g But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, _h wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁹ Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she _i came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰ And Eli _j would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the ₃ loan that was _k given to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home.

²¹ And the LORD _l visited ₄ Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel _m grew before the LORD.

1. Cross References
   Psalms 89:24
   But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
   
2. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 13:13
   Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods" ' - which you have not known -
   
3. Cross References
   Judges 2:10
   When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.
   Romans 1:28
   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.
   
4. Cross References
   1 Samuel 1:3
   This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
   
5. Cross References
   Leviticus 3:3 - 5
   Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails.
   Leviticus 3:16
   And the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD's.
   
6. Cross References
   Genesis 6:11
   The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
   
7. Cross References
   Malachi 2:7 - 9
   For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
   
8. Cross References
   1 Samuel 2:11
   Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.
   1 Samuel 3:1
   Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
   
9. Cross References
   Exodus 28:4
   And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.
   
10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:3
    This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
    1 Samuel 1:21
    Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.
    
11. Cross References
    Genesis 14:19
    And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.
    
12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:11
    Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.
    1 Samuel 1:27
    For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
    1 Samuel 1:28
    Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
    
13. Cross References
    Genesis 21:1
    And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.
    

New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.