1 Samuel 2:20, commentary and pictures

In his office as priest and judge of Israel, Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife by asking the Lord to give them more children in return for Samuel, whom they had lent to the Lord. The verse stands in the history of Eli and his sons when the priests' irreverence caused the people to despise the offerings and obscured their meaning as symbols pointing to Christ's sacrifice. The same setting places Samuel's childhood amid the corrupting influence of Eli's sons, yet despite seeing and hearing their wrongdoing he remained faithful to God and untainted by their sins. The setting creates a contrast between Eli's failure as a father and Hannah's faithfulness and self-denial, and between Eli's blessing on Elkanah's household and the judgment coming on his own household.

God held Eli accountable for the moral and religious standing of his people and in a special sense for the character of his sons, but Eli feared his wicked sons' displeasure and did not promptly and firmly restrain them, suffering them to go on in rebellion until they became a curse to Israel and brought God's curse and displeasure on himself. He incurred that displeasure by not reproving sin and executing justice upon the sinner, so he could not be depended upon to keep Israel pure. He should first have attempted to restrain evil by mild measures, and if these did not avail he should have subdued the wrong by the severest means. His failure came from believing himself wiser than his Creator and following his own judgment and human wisdom in training his children instead of God's commands and rules for family government, overlooking the faults and sins of his sons in childhood with the idea that they would outgrow evil tendencies.

Because of his position his influence was more extended than if he had been an ordinary man, his family life was imitated throughout Israel, and the results of his negligent, ease-loving ways were seen in thousands of homes, ending in disaster and death to himself, ruin to his wicked sons, and ruin to thousands in Israel. The verse therefore teaches that parents are required to restrain their children and that the salvation of children depends very much upon the course pursued by their parents. Parents who indulge their children may share in Eli's sin and face its consequences, and those who through too little courage to reprove wrong or through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God are held accountable for the evil that results from neglect, just as responsible for evils they might have checked by parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had been their own. The mournful history warns those standing like Eli in holy office today not to think they know a better way of training children than God has given in His word.

God Himself established the family relations and His word is the only safe guide in managing children, because as Creator He best understands all the needs of children and as the One who bought them with His own blood He feels the deepest interest in their welfare, so that if His word were carefully studied and faithfully obeyed there would be less anguish over the perverse conduct of wicked children. Mistaken love and fondness that indulges children hurts them, nourishes their pride, and puts trimmings and fixings upon them that make them vain and lead them to think dress makes the lady or gentleman, while short acquaintance proves outward appearance cannot hide the deformity of a heart void of the Christian graces and filled with self-love, haughtiness, and uncontrolled passion. Those who love meekness, humility, and virtue should shun such society even if it be Sabbath-keepers' children, because their company is poisonous and their influence leads to death, and indulgent parents do not realize the destructive influence of the seed they are sowing, which will spring up and bear fruit that will make their children despise parental authority.