1 Samuel 2:32, commentary and pictures

God's message to Eli warned of judgment to come upon him and his household for guilt and sin. His sons Hophni and Phinehas had profaned holy office and led thousands in Israel to ruin, while Eli though knowing their sins failed for years to restrain, remove or correct them and honored them above God. The distress foretold was an enemy seen in God's dwelling amid all the wealth He would give Israel, with Eli's house cut off so no old man would remain in it forever, and both sons to die on the same day without pardon. That word was fulfilled when Israel through unfaithfulness was defeated and given into enemies' hands, and on hearing the battle was lost Eli fell backward and died. Parental neglect to teach, discipline and mold children to submit their wills is highly aggravating to God, and the salvation of children depends very much on parents restraining and correcting wrongdoing promptly and firmly by God's word rather than tolerating it through indulgence.

Judgment Pronounced on Eli

This verse belongs to God's message of warning and reproof to Eli's house, foretelling threatened judgment for guilt and sin that was polluting the sanctuary and leading thousands in Israel to ruin, including judgments to come upon Eli and his household. Its setting was the corrupt conduct of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whose wrongdoing in holy office profaned the sanctuary, caused the people to neglect its worship, and led thousands to ruin. Eli's own guilt was that although he knew of his sons' sins he failed over many years to restrain, govern, control, correct or remove them from priestly office, but allowed them to continue serving in holy office despite their wrongdoing, thereby honoring them above God and dishonoring Him.

The verse foretells distress in God's dwelling amid all the wealth God would give Israel, seen as an enemy in His habitation, with loss and trouble coming upon Israel. Eli's house would be cut off so it would not continue in strength, and there would be no old man in it forever, meaning no man of his house would grow old. That cutting off included that Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day, and that God would not pardon their transgressions or bless Eli's house but would cut them off in their sins. When the message came Eli confessed his guilt but showed no fruits of true repentance, for he failed to renounce the sin and took no effective measures over many years to correct the evils and redeem the failures of the past. God delayed the threatened judgments year after year, but His forbearance only caused Hophni and Phinehas to harden their hearts and become still bolder in transgression.

Their sins like a thick cloud had shut out the presence of His Holy Spirit, so God could not communicate with Eli and his sons. In the midst of that evil the child Samuel remained true to Heaven, and the message of condemnation to the house of Eli became Samuel's commission as a prophet of the Most High. Eli made the warnings to his house known to the whole nation, hoping to counteract in some measure the evil influence of his past neglect, and Samuel made the warnings and reproofs known, but they were disregarded by the priests and the people just as the priests had disregarded them. Because God's authority had been set aside and His worship neglected and despised, a day of retribution was approaching when He must interpose that the honor of His name might be maintained.

The enemy in God's habitation and Israel's loss were fulfilled when Israel suffered defeat in battle and was given into the hands of enemies because of unfaithfulness. That curse came upon his children because Eli let his children do as they pleased despite God's commission and failed to restrain his sons. On hearing that the battle was lost, Eli fell backward and died.

Warning to Parents Today

Parental neglect in teaching, disciplining, and molding children to submit their wills is highly aggravating to God. Eli knew of his sons' sins yet failed to remove them from holy office, and for that neglect his household would face judgment, with God refusing to pardon their transgressions or bless his house but cutting them off in their sins. Age and experience in God's work do not excuse a father who neglects his responsibilities at home.

Eli's fault was fond, indulgent parenting that let his sons grow from babyhood without restraint until forward, selfish, disagreeable ways became confirmed habits. He put human wisdom above God's commands in training them, thinking in self-confidence that he knew a better way than God had given and failing to pray to be taught how to order the child. He feared his sons' displeasure and suffered them to go on in wicked rebellion when he might have restrained them. That mistaken love and fondness indulged them to their hurt, nourishing pride and vanity through trimmings, ornaments and dress and teaching that outward appearance makes the lady or gentleman. Such indulgent management is an example God disapproves because parents are responsible to restrain and correct their children.

That course brought God's curse and judgment on his house to disaster and death for himself, ruin for his wicked sons, and ruin for thousands in Israel. Eli was to see the harm done to his own influence and to the young people he should have corrected, and when children uphold and continue their fathers' sins God recompenses parents and children together so that both learn bitter lessons. The same neglect now leaves children self-willed, stubborn and undisciplined, causes most church difficulties, ruins Christian character, and will require parents to render a fearful account to God. Where parents do not govern themselves and fail to discipline their children, allowing them to lie, deceive and steal and to practice iniquity with no sense of sin, they form characters as Satan's agents that will certainly be punished with the plagues to come upon the earth.

The verse therefore warns parents to restrain promptly and firmly children who do wrong rather than tolerate their conduct as unavoidable or let rebellion grow through indulgence. The salvation of children depends very much upon the course pursued by the parents, for indulgence sows destructive seed that springs up to make children despise parental authority, leaving the heart void of Christian graces and filled with self-love, haughtiness and uncontrolled passions whose influence leads to death. God's word is the only safe guide in the management of children. The curse on Eli is avoided by studying the Bible and doing the Word, keeping children as free as possible from the demoralizing fashions of the age, and taking greater pains to give them beautiful characters that keep the way of the Lord than to give them a stylish appearance. Fathers who minister in word and doctrine must especially have their children be examples of what they teach, elevating their own life and character to reach the high standard God has erected rather than seeking the approval of the world.

The warning given to Eli over his indulgence should have had stronger influence on Samuel to be firm in restraining his own sons. Samuel was to some extent too indulgent, so his sons did not heed the precepts he sought to impress on them and did not copy his pure, unselfish life. The result was seen in their character and life when they turned aside after lucre, took bribes, and perverted judgment.