Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.
Eli warned his sons Hophni and Phinehas that their wicked conduct in the priesthood had brought a bad report and was leading the Lord's people into sin. By profaning worship and despising the offerings they turned people away from God, emboldened evil and brought ruin on thousands in Israel. His warning was only mild words, for he failed to exercise parental and priestly authority to restrain them, remove them from office, and judge their abominable example as it deserved. By permitting and excusing their wrongdoing he shared their guilt and became as responsible for evils he might have checked as if the acts were his own. The verse therefore warns parents that they must do more than ask why children do wrong but must promptly guide, restrain and discipline them, and it requires in a pre-eminent degree that those who minister in sacred things make their own households patterns of good works.
The Sons' Sin Against Israel
The verse speaks of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whom Eli had exalted to the priesthood to minister at the door of the tabernacle in slaying beasts and at the altar of sacrifice, while Eli alone was permitted to enter the most holy once a year. Though married men, they were selfish, covetous, gluttonous, profligate, irreverent and licentious, defrauding Israel in their offerings and boldly transgressing God's law with violence. Their abuse of that sacred office caused Israel to sin.
Their wicked conduct was widely known to all Israel, bringing a bad report and filling the land with reports of wrongdoing. Eli heard of their conduct and knew of their evil reputation.
By that conduct they made the Lord's people to transgress, for their corrupt example profaned worship and polluted the sanctuary. They caused the people to despise and neglect the worship God had ordained, to turn away from the appointed place of worship, to lightly regard crime and to despise the sacrificial offerings. Their example in sacred office brought temptation and tested faith and devotion, emboldened others to do evil, led those who cherished sin to join them, led many to excuse their own wrongdoing, and led thousands in Israel to ruin.
Their open iniquity also took away the sense of guilt among the surrounding nations and made them bolder in idolatry and crime, so that with God's authority set aside and His worship neglected and despised it became necessary for Him to interpose that the honor of His name might be maintained. Their influence did not defile Samuel, who remained faithful to God, and an angel spoke with him about their sins. Eli, filled with anxiety and remorse over his wayward sons, found comfort in Samuel's contrasting character, but God passed Eli by to give His message to the innocent child Samuel whom He accepted for His service.
Eli's Rebuke Without Restraint
Eli heard of his sons' conduct and, as high priest and judge of Israel and as father and household priest who knew God's will and had taught them the law, he rebuked and remonstrated with them and entreated them. In 1 Samuel 2:24 he warned them that their conduct brought a bad report and made the Lord's people transgress, asking why they acted wickedly. He set before them the enormity of their sin, that a sin of one person against another could be atoned for by the officiating priests, but if priests themselves sin against God with open contempt for His authority no one remains to make atonement for them.
That rebuke was only mild, occasional words and did not fulfill his duty, for he failed to take decisive action to guide and discipline them firmly and wisely and to exercise control. He did not restrain them with parental and priestly authority as father and household priest and as priest and judge, though as judge he had authority to correct them and abolish their injustice and iniquity. He should first have attempted to restrain evil by mild measures, but when those did not avail he should have subdued the wrong by the severest means, reproving sin and executing justice upon the sinner, removing them at once from the priesthood and judging them as their case deserved even to death for their abominable example to Israel. Instead he let them follow their evil desires and suffered them to go on in rebellion and wickedness until they defied human and divine authority and became a curse to Israel.
His failure came from fond, indulgent affection that made him a partial judge who excused in his sons what he would have condemned in others and honored his sons above God. He feared their displeasure and feared to cross their will, and suffered them to go on in rebellion. He believed himself wiser than his Creator and followed human wisdom instead of God's commands, managing his household by his own judgment instead of God's rules for family government. He fondly overlooked faults and sins in childhood and flattered himself they would outgrow evil, indulging youth to have their own way until wrong habits strengthened into second nature and respect for parents and for the authority of God and man was lost. By this neglect he was blinded, and he remained indolent and ease-loving and discouraged, thinking correction useless and not repenting as the Ninevites did.
By permitting and excusing their wrongdoing he shared their guilt and became a partner in it, though he did not commit their sins himself. His lack of courage to reprove wrong and his indolence and lack of interest in purifying the family and the church made him just as responsible for evils he might have checked by parental or pastoral authority as if the acts were his own. Consenting to evildoers by silence or permission degrades his own moral nature and character however high his position, whether the injustice is in worldly business or in connection with God's cause. That course displeased God and dishonored Him and bore false witness against His holy, wise and merciful character.
God's anger was kindled against this criminal neglect of family discipline and sacred duty, and Eli was cursed for not promptly and firmly restraining them. God declared through Samuel that He would not pardon their transgressions or bless Eli's house but would cut off both sons in one day in their sins. Eli confessed his guilt but did not truly repent or renounce the sin, and during the years God delayed the threatened judgments he took no effective measures, which hardened his sons to bolder transgression. He made known to the whole nation the warnings given to his house hoping to counteract his past neglect, but the people disregarded them as the priests had. His negligence left Israel exposed to defeat and loss of the ark, and deprived Israel of strength and glory when his sons were killed and the ark was taken, bringing disaster and death to himself and ruin to his sons and to thousands in Israel.
Warning to Parents and Ministers
A parent must do more than ask why children act wickedly or merely advise them. Parents must with promptness and decision guide and discipline firmly and wisely in religious matters, teaching them to keep the Sabbath and take part in worship and family prayer. They must firmly restrain and correct them, not only give right instruction and a good example but restrain the inclination to do evil. As long as a son or daughter is under the parent's roof and dependent on the parent and supported by the church, the child should be subject to the parents, and the parent must require conformity to rules and restraint by counsel and wishes, must move with decision requiring the following out of views of right, and must not be in subjection to them. If the child will not consent to such restraint, the parent must no longer keep that child dependent.
Mistaken love that indulges pride, vanity and self-will harms children and leads them to despise parental authority. Pampering children and letting them do as they please sows seed that springs up to make them despise parental authority, while excusing their sins and neglecting fatherly and household-priestly duty displeases God, harms the children, and brings injury to His cause through family influence. Pampering and failing to restrain a son in evil ways harms him and others and brings God's disapproval. The salvation of children depends very much upon the course pursued by their parents. To permit loose habits, going and coming as one pleases, choosing one's own society and encouraging corrupt companions while bound by the marriage vow, and to labor to clear and cover up that course while bearing down unsparingly on lesser sins of others, brings awful trial upon the church, brings reproach upon God's cause, displeases God both in the parent and in the church that suffers it so long, and gives enemies of the faith occasion to speak reproachfully. A father who does not rule his own house well and does not restrain his children brings God's frown upon himself, and such unrestrained children become corrupt and ungodly, a proverb of reproach exerting corrupting influence wherever they live, disgusting unbelievers and bringing reproach upon God's cause.
Eli in his accountability as priest and judge of Israel failed in his accountability for the moral and religious standing of his people and in a special sense for the character of his sons by giving only a mild verbal rebuke. He should first have attempted to restrain evil by mild measures, but when those did not avail he should have subdued the wrong by the severest means, reproving sin and executing justice upon the sinner. Though as judge he had authority to correct his sons and abolish their injustice and iniquity, he only reproved them and permitted them to go on in wickedness. He did not commit their sins himself, but by allowing them to continue he became a partner in their guilt and swerved from loyalty to truth and equity. Consenting to evildoers by silence or permission makes a person share the guilt of those who do wrong, degrades moral nature and character however high the position, dishonors God and bears false witness against His holy, wise and merciful character, and brings God's judgment whether the injustice is practiced in worldly business or in connection with God's cause. Lack of courage to reprove wrong and indolence and lack of interest in purifying family and church makes a parent or pastor just as responsible for evils he might have checked by parental or pastoral authority as if the acts were his own.
God requires in a pre-eminent degree that those who minister in sacred things, to whom people look for instruction and guidance, make their families patterns of good works and perfect Christian households as examples to the flock, for he who fails to direct wisely his own household is not qualified to guide God's church. Those responsible must rebuke sin impartially even when offenders are close to them, since failing to restrain sin dishonors God and can bring harm upon His people. Because of his position Eli's negligent, ease-loving example was imitated throughout Israel and molded thousands of homes, bringing God's truth into reproach, disgrace on Christ's cause, and ruin on himself and his household, with ten-fold greater guilt because as a teacher his failure to control his household misleads many. Ministers who live corruptly under appearance of religion lead people toward ruin and damage confidence in religion, so that when their true character is exposed people may distrust teachers of God's word and the word may lose its power in their lives.
Eli managed his household by his own judgment instead of God's rules for family government, fondly overlooking faults and sins in childhood and flattering himself they would outgrow evil, indulging youth to have their own way until wrong habits strengthened into second nature, respect for parents and for divine and human authority was lost, and souls were led captive at Satan's will. His sin was believing himself wiser than his Creator and following human wisdom in preference to God's commands in training his children, and his fond, indulgent failure brought disaster and death to himself, ruin to his sons, and ruin to thousands in Israel. His history stands as a warning to those in holy office today who repeat his mistake by trusting learning, intelligence and self-confidence to know a better way than God has given. God Himself established family relations, and His word is the only safe guide in managing children, because the Creator best understands their needs and bought them with His own blood, and human philosophy has devised nothing wiser. If His word were studied and obeyed from babyhood there would be less anguish over perverse conduct and confirmed forward, selfish habits. Merely remonstrating without restraining was sin and neglect of parental duty that blinded him, so that God could not go forth with His people and passed him by to give His message to the innocent child Samuel. When warned he only submitted, yet remained indolent and discouraged, thinking correction useless, and did not repent as the Ninevites did, which warns parents now against indulgent neglect and discouraged inaction and against trusting in the ark or in possessing knowledge of law and truth to save without full obedience that transforms character, since ark and law are of no consequence without keeping the law they contain and without trust in the God who gave them.
Eli warned his sons Hophni and Phinehas that their wicked conduct in the priesthood had brought a bad report and was leading the Lord's people into sin. By profaning worship and despising the offerings they turned people away from God, emboldened evil and brought ruin on thousands in Israel. His warning was only mild words, for he failed to exercise parental and priestly authority to restrain them, remove them from office, and judge their abominable example as it deserved. By permitting and excusing their wrongdoing he shared their guilt and became as responsible for evils he might have checked as if the acts were his own. The verse therefore warns parents that they must do more than ask why children do wrong but must promptly guide, restrain and discipline them, and it requires in a pre-eminent degree that those who minister in sacred things make their own households patterns of good works.
The Sons' Sin Against Israel
The verse speaks of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whom Eli had exalted to the priesthood to minister at the door of the tabernacle in slaying beasts and at the altar of sacrifice, while Eli alone was permitted to enter the most holy once a year. Though married men, they were selfish, covetous, gluttonous, profligate, irreverent and licentious, defrauding Israel in their offerings and boldly transgressing God's law with violence. Their abuse of that sacred office caused Israel to sin.
Their wicked conduct was widely known to all Israel, bringing a bad report and filling the land with reports of wrongdoing. Eli heard of their conduct and knew of their evil reputation.
By that conduct they made the Lord's people to transgress, for their corrupt example profaned worship and polluted the sanctuary. They caused the people to despise and neglect the worship God had ordained, to turn away from the appointed place of worship, to lightly regard crime and to despise the sacrificial offerings. Their example in sacred office brought temptation and tested faith and devotion, emboldened others to do evil, led those who cherished sin to join them, led many to excuse their own wrongdoing, and led thousands in Israel to ruin.
Their open iniquity also took away the sense of guilt among the surrounding nations and made them bolder in idolatry and crime, so that with God's authority set aside and His worship neglected and despised it became necessary for Him to interpose that the honor of His name might be maintained. Their influence did not defile Samuel, who remained faithful to God, and an angel spoke with him about their sins. Eli, filled with anxiety and remorse over his wayward sons, found comfort in Samuel's contrasting character, but God passed Eli by to give His message to the innocent child Samuel whom He accepted for His service.
Eli's Rebuke Without Restraint
Eli heard of his sons' conduct and, as high priest and judge of Israel and as father and household priest who knew God's will and had taught them the law, he rebuked and remonstrated with them and entreated them. In 1 Samuel 2:24 he warned them that their conduct brought a bad report and made the Lord's people transgress, asking why they acted wickedly. He set before them the enormity of their sin, that a sin of one person against another could be atoned for by the officiating priests, but if priests themselves sin against God with open contempt for His authority no one remains to make atonement for them.
That rebuke was only mild, occasional words and did not fulfill his duty, for he failed to take decisive action to guide and discipline them firmly and wisely and to exercise control. He did not restrain them with parental and priestly authority as father and household priest and as priest and judge, though as judge he had authority to correct them and abolish their injustice and iniquity. He should first have attempted to restrain evil by mild measures, but when those did not avail he should have subdued the wrong by the severest means, reproving sin and executing justice upon the sinner, removing them at once from the priesthood and judging them as their case deserved even to death for their abominable example to Israel. Instead he let them follow their evil desires and suffered them to go on in rebellion and wickedness until they defied human and divine authority and became a curse to Israel.
His failure came from fond, indulgent affection that made him a partial judge who excused in his sons what he would have condemned in others and honored his sons above God. He feared their displeasure and feared to cross their will, and suffered them to go on in rebellion. He believed himself wiser than his Creator and followed human wisdom instead of God's commands, managing his household by his own judgment instead of God's rules for family government. He fondly overlooked faults and sins in childhood and flattered himself they would outgrow evil, indulging youth to have their own way until wrong habits strengthened into second nature and respect for parents and for the authority of God and man was lost. By this neglect he was blinded, and he remained indolent and ease-loving and discouraged, thinking correction useless and not repenting as the Ninevites did.
By permitting and excusing their wrongdoing he shared their guilt and became a partner in it, though he did not commit their sins himself. His lack of courage to reprove wrong and his indolence and lack of interest in purifying the family and the church made him just as responsible for evils he might have checked by parental or pastoral authority as if the acts were his own. Consenting to evildoers by silence or permission degrades his own moral nature and character however high his position, whether the injustice is in worldly business or in connection with God's cause. That course displeased God and dishonored Him and bore false witness against His holy, wise and merciful character.
God's anger was kindled against this criminal neglect of family discipline and sacred duty, and Eli was cursed for not promptly and firmly restraining them. God declared through Samuel that He would not pardon their transgressions or bless Eli's house but would cut off both sons in one day in their sins. Eli confessed his guilt but did not truly repent or renounce the sin, and during the years God delayed the threatened judgments he took no effective measures, which hardened his sons to bolder transgression. He made known to the whole nation the warnings given to his house hoping to counteract his past neglect, but the people disregarded them as the priests had. His negligence left Israel exposed to defeat and loss of the ark, and deprived Israel of strength and glory when his sons were killed and the ark was taken, bringing disaster and death to himself and ruin to his sons and to thousands in Israel.
Warning to Parents and Ministers
A parent must do more than ask why children act wickedly or merely advise them. Parents must with promptness and decision guide and discipline firmly and wisely in religious matters, teaching them to keep the Sabbath and take part in worship and family prayer. They must firmly restrain and correct them, not only give right instruction and a good example but restrain the inclination to do evil. As long as a son or daughter is under the parent's roof and dependent on the parent and supported by the church, the child should be subject to the parents, and the parent must require conformity to rules and restraint by counsel and wishes, must move with decision requiring the following out of views of right, and must not be in subjection to them. If the child will not consent to such restraint, the parent must no longer keep that child dependent.
Mistaken love that indulges pride, vanity and self-will harms children and leads them to despise parental authority. Pampering children and letting them do as they please sows seed that springs up to make them despise parental authority, while excusing their sins and neglecting fatherly and household-priestly duty displeases God, harms the children, and brings injury to His cause through family influence. Pampering and failing to restrain a son in evil ways harms him and others and brings God's disapproval. The salvation of children depends very much upon the course pursued by their parents. To permit loose habits, going and coming as one pleases, choosing one's own society and encouraging corrupt companions while bound by the marriage vow, and to labor to clear and cover up that course while bearing down unsparingly on lesser sins of others, brings awful trial upon the church, brings reproach upon God's cause, displeases God both in the parent and in the church that suffers it so long, and gives enemies of the faith occasion to speak reproachfully. A father who does not rule his own house well and does not restrain his children brings God's frown upon himself, and such unrestrained children become corrupt and ungodly, a proverb of reproach exerting corrupting influence wherever they live, disgusting unbelievers and bringing reproach upon God's cause.
Eli in his accountability as priest and judge of Israel failed in his accountability for the moral and religious standing of his people and in a special sense for the character of his sons by giving only a mild verbal rebuke. He should first have attempted to restrain evil by mild measures, but when those did not avail he should have subdued the wrong by the severest means, reproving sin and executing justice upon the sinner. Though as judge he had authority to correct his sons and abolish their injustice and iniquity, he only reproved them and permitted them to go on in wickedness. He did not commit their sins himself, but by allowing them to continue he became a partner in their guilt and swerved from loyalty to truth and equity. Consenting to evildoers by silence or permission makes a person share the guilt of those who do wrong, degrades moral nature and character however high the position, dishonors God and bears false witness against His holy, wise and merciful character, and brings God's judgment whether the injustice is practiced in worldly business or in connection with God's cause. Lack of courage to reprove wrong and indolence and lack of interest in purifying family and church makes a parent or pastor just as responsible for evils he might have checked by parental or pastoral authority as if the acts were his own.
God requires in a pre-eminent degree that those who minister in sacred things, to whom people look for instruction and guidance, make their families patterns of good works and perfect Christian households as examples to the flock, for he who fails to direct wisely his own household is not qualified to guide God's church. Those responsible must rebuke sin impartially even when offenders are close to them, since failing to restrain sin dishonors God and can bring harm upon His people. Because of his position Eli's negligent, ease-loving example was imitated throughout Israel and molded thousands of homes, bringing God's truth into reproach, disgrace on Christ's cause, and ruin on himself and his household, with ten-fold greater guilt because as a teacher his failure to control his household misleads many. Ministers who live corruptly under appearance of religion lead people toward ruin and damage confidence in religion, so that when their true character is exposed people may distrust teachers of God's word and the word may lose its power in their lives.
Eli managed his household by his own judgment instead of God's rules for family government, fondly overlooking faults and sins in childhood and flattering himself they would outgrow evil, indulging youth to have their own way until wrong habits strengthened into second nature, respect for parents and for divine and human authority was lost, and souls were led captive at Satan's will. His sin was believing himself wiser than his Creator and following human wisdom in preference to God's commands in training his children, and his fond, indulgent failure brought disaster and death to himself, ruin to his sons, and ruin to thousands in Israel. His history stands as a warning to those in holy office today who repeat his mistake by trusting learning, intelligence and self-confidence to know a better way than God has given. God Himself established family relations, and His word is the only safe guide in managing children, because the Creator best understands their needs and bought them with His own blood, and human philosophy has devised nothing wiser. If His word were studied and obeyed from babyhood there would be less anguish over perverse conduct and confirmed forward, selfish habits. Merely remonstrating without restraining was sin and neglect of parental duty that blinded him, so that God could not go forth with His people and passed him by to give His message to the innocent child Samuel. When warned he only submitted, yet remained indolent and discouraged, thinking correction useless, and did not repent as the Ninevites did, which warns parents now against indulgent neglect and discouraged inaction and against trusting in the ark or in possessing knowledge of law and truth to save without full obedience that transforms character, since ark and law are of no consequence without keeping the law they contain and without trust in the God who gave them.