Did Eli correct his sons or not? (1 Samuel 3:13)
This text informs us that Eli’s sons “made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” However, in the previous chapter, Eli rebuked his sons for their evil deeds (1 Sam 2:23-24).
1 Samuel 3:1 - 21
ESV - 1 Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
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Asked March 01 2022
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Shirley H
Supporter
1 Samuel 2:22-24 - Eli was very old. He knew about his sons' behavior. They were wicked. Eli said to them that many people were talking. Eli scolded them, but they did not care. They were adults. They did what they wanted. They had no respect for their father, or God. These men functioned as wicked priests. I believe that Eli knew that God was going to kill them. Nothing he could do would stop that. When a person sins against God, no one can intercede for them. Numbers 15:30,31 - "But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or resident alien, blasphemes the Lord, that person is to be cut off from his people. He will certainly be cut off, because he has despised the Lord's word and broken his command; his guilt remains on Him." Praise the Lord we now have Lord Jesus, our Savior. Praise God for the Holy Spirit our paraclete! Look at 1 Samuel 2:27-36. The man of God speaks to Eli. If they follow God, and walk with Him, they would be blessed. Look at verses 33 and 34. Any man in Eli's family not cut off from the altar will bring grief. Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day. 1 Samuel 4:11: "The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas died." Psalm. 78:56-64
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Eli may have reproved his sons too leniently or not soon enough. It was a case of “too little, too late.” At any rate, they became so hardened that his attempt here was futile. Whatever efforts he made at discipline here were not effective. —Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe Godly people told Eli about his sons' sins, and he spoke to them about their conduct, but it did no good. They, too, were priests who slept with the help. He wasn't much of a godly father or spiritual leader, and his sons disregarded his warnings. They were in effect disregarding His (God's) warnings. This is tragic! See more from Warren Wiersbe: https://storage.snappages.site/7STCWP/assets/files/The-Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Old-Testame-90.pdf
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