Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the LORD.
(1 Samuel 2:12 CSB)
On the heels of Hannah’s worship-filled prayer comes a stark contrast. The very next account provides record of the great sins of Eli’s sons. What makes their behavior so wicked? They were priests.
Things were so bad in Israel that even the priesthood was tainted by sin—all because they “did not know the Lord” or “have regard” for Him.
Instead of being priests who bestowed the Aaronic blessing upon God’s people (Numbers 6:24-26), they extorted them. They acted as opportunists who used their position to take the best for themselves.
When it came to the sacrifice and offerings, prime belonged to God. But they “scorned the sacrifice” by taking the best and fattening themselves on the choice parts (2 Samuel 2:29). Scripture tells us this treated “the Lord’s offering with contempt” (2 Samuel 2:17). They were also guilty of other detestable practices.
They dishonored the calling of God to be his representative in the world.
Therefore, God sent a messenger to Eli with a verdict and judgment (2 Samuel 2:27; see also 2 Samuel 3:12-14). They both lost their lives on the same day, in a battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:10-11). However, even more tragic than the other lives lost, was losing the Ark of the Covenant in battle. It was hauled off to Dagon’s Temple in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1-2). But God promised He would raise up a faithful priest (1 Samuel 2:35). Zadok would take the place of Eli as High Priest, eventually serving under King David and King Solomon.
But the infinitely perfect and infinitely holy High Priest of God was yet to come.
Called and confirmed by God’s oath, from the order of Melchizedek, Jesus is that faithful High Priest. He “is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). Therefore, He is able to meet all our needs (Hebrews 7:26). He is also the final, and permanent, High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-24), who is now exalted and seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 8:1). This makes Him “able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). There is no need for Him to offer a sacrifice for sin . . . He was the sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27).
The sons of Eli, in great avarice, greed, and sinfulness, corrupted the priesthood. But Jesus, the Son of God, redeemed and fulfilled the priesthood as a humble servant.
In the case of Hophni and Phinehas, God pronounced, “Those who honor Me, I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30). Jesus, too, declared in John 2:26 this same “law of reciprocal honor” (to quote A W Tozer). As God’s “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), will we honor the calling of God as His representatives in the world?
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