1 Samuel 2
R.C. Sproul · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Samuel 2
Sproul - Elkanah and Hannah leave Samuel at Shiloh, where he “ministers to the LORD before Eli the priest.” Why does Eli, who is old and apparently semi-retired, take on the demanding task of training and mentoring this young child? Today’s passage tells us why—no one else can be trusted with the job. Eli has turned over the priestly duties in the tabernacle to his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, but they are exceedingly “corrupt.” The Hebrew text actually says they are “sons of Belial,” which connotes worthlessness and wickedness. It is a term used frequently in the books of Samuel to designate those who are under the covenant but unfaithful to it. The bottom line is that Hophni and Phinehas simply do not “know the LORD.” These young priests are guilty of two main crimes. First, they are taking unjustifiably large portions of the people’s offerings, violating God’s specific instructions. The Law designated that specific portions of sacrificed animals be given to the priests (Lev. 7:28–36; Deut. 18:3), but Hophni and Phinehas have instituted a new practice, sending a servant to thrust a large fork into the cauldron in which the sacrifice is boiling, and taking whatever he might spear. Neither are they following the prescribed procedure for burning the fat of the sacrifices, even when the people protest, but they are demanding that they be given portions God has reserved for Himself. Their disrespect for God’s dictates is causing the people to abhor the sacrifices (v. 17). In other words, they are leading the people away from covenant faithfulness. Second, the priests are having sexual relations with women who “assemble at the door of the tabernacle.” These women may be ritual prostitutes who are emulating Canaanite worship practices. In any case, the priests are defiling themselves, defiling these women, and, at least in Phinehas’ case, sinning against a wife (4:19). Their behavior also encourages the people to sin (v. 24). Eli, hearing of his sons’ sinful ways, rebukes them. He gives them a dire warning—they are sinning against God, and He will not let sin go unpunished. But Hophni and Phinehas will not listen, and the author of 1 Samuel makes the reason clear: “The LORD desired to kill them.” God already has judged them, has ceased to strive with them, and has withdrawn His grace from them. Their doom is set. Pastors and other leaders in the church can do great harm or great good simply by their example. This is why Scripture calls church leaders to be “blameless … of good behavior” (1 Tim. 3:2). Pray that your current church leaders would be men of this type, and do what you can to encourage godly men to take up leadership positions. (Tabletalk) 1 Samuel 2:18 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. BGT 1 Samuel 2:18 καὶ Σαμουηλ ἦν λειτουργῶν ἐνώπιον κυρίου παιδάριον περιεζωσμένον εφουδ βαρ KJV 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. NET 1 Samuel 2:18 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD. The boy was dressed in a linen ephod. CSB 1 Samuel 2:18 The boy Samuel served in the LORD's presence and wore a linen ephod. ESV 1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. NIV 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel was ministering before the LORD--a boy wearing a linen ephod. NLT 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the LORD. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest. NRS 1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. RSV 1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen ephod. YLT 1 Samuel 2:18 And Samuel is ministering in the presence of Jehovah, a youth girt with an ephod of linen; NKJ 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. NJB 1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel was in Yahweh's service, a child wearing a linen loincloth. ministering: 1Sa 2:11 3:1 a linen ephod: 1Sa 22:18 Ex 28:4 Lev 8:7 2Sa 6:14 1 Samuel 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Exodus 39:27-29 They made the tunics of finely woven linen for Aaron and his sons, 28 and the turban of fine linen, and the decorated caps of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twisted linen, 29 and the sash of fine twisted linen, and blue and purple and scarlet material, the work of the weaver, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. SAMUEL'S STRIKING CONTRAST Now Samuel - This phrase marks the dawning of a new light in Israel! It could have been written as well "but Samuel" (as in NIV, KJV, et al) for Samuel's obedience in this section is in striking contrast to the blatant disobedience of Eli's sons who should have been doing what Samuel was doing! Eli's sons were stealing form Jehovah while Samuel was ministering to Jehovah! David
1 Samuel 2
Sproul - Woe to Eli’s House 1 SAMUEL 2:27–29 - Tabletalk “ ‘Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ ” (1 Sam. 2:29) We have been told already by the author of 1 Samuel that Eli’s sons are living on borrowed time, for they are sinful and unrepentant. In today’s passage, God brings His complaint against them to Eli. Unfortunately, Eli finds himself under God’s indictment as well. Our text says that a “man of God,” a prophet, comes to Eli. Prophets are messengers for God; for this reason, like the man of God in today’s passage, they typically begin their pronouncements by saying, “ ‘Thus says the LORD.’ ” The appearance of this prophet is a significant event, for “the word of the LORD was rare” (3:1) in these years. It is a time when God is saying little to His people. Prophets had been known in Israel’s past (Gen. 20:7; Deut. 18:15; 34:10; Judg. 6:8). Now, however, they will become more common in the Scriptural record, and we will meet several in 1 and 2 Samuel. Like most prophets, this man is entrusted with a message of judgment. First, however, he speaks to Eli of God’s grace. He notes that God revealed Himself to Eli’s ancestor Aaron when Israel was enslaved in Egypt. Anyone to whom God reveals Himself is greatly blessed, but God went further in Aaron’s case, choosing him and his descendants, from all the families in Israel, to serve as priests. And even more, God provided a generous living for His priests from the offerings of the people. God did good for the priestly line, including Eli. But then comes the indictment: “ ‘Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering … and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel?’ ” God holds Eli guilty because he has not done all he can to stop the sinful practices of his sons; in effect, Eli has shown more honor to them than to God. Also, God’s words seem to imply that Eli has grown fat (4:18) by eating the illicit meat his sons have poached. Eli has forgotten the goodness of God to his family, the privilege of serving as a priest. However, as Matthew
1 Samuel 2
Sproul - A House Degraded 1 SAMUEL 2:30–36 - Tabletalk “ ‘… for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed’ ” (1 Sam. 2:30b). As we saw yesterday, God might well be calling Eli to repentance by sending the man of God to him. But the sin of Eli’s sons, and Eli’s complicity in it, is grave, and it will have consequences. The prophet announces those consequences in the passage before us today. Speaking through the prophet, God begins by noting that He promised that “ ‘Your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ ” This seems to be a reference to God’s promise that Aaron’s descendants would be God’s priests (Ex. 29:9). However, the word forever must be understood as “indefinitely,” and “walk before Me” must be understood not as a statement of what will occur but of what must occur—Aaron’s descendants must serve God in faithfulness. In short, God promised the priesthood to Aaron’s line as long as they were faithful to His covenant requirements. But now Eli’s family has ceased to honor God as they should. Therefore, Eli’s “arm” and that of his father’s house will be cut off. The “father” mentioned in this passage does not seem to be Aaron but Ithamar, the son of Aaron through whom Eli is descended. God is saying here that He plans to cause the priestly line of Ithamar to fade in terms of its numerical strength and prominence. While the line will continue to have a priestly role, it will be greatly diminished. It will suffer a series of untimely deaths, with succeeding priests being struck down in the prime of life. Eli’s descendants will suffer impoverishment (v. 36) and will have to beg for priestly jobs. Furthermore, Eli will have the heartbreak of seeing God’s sanctuary attacked and the ark of the covenant captured. And as a sign that God will indeed bring all this to pass, He tells Eli that both of his sons will die on the same day. However, this judgment will not thwart God’s purposes. He says, “ ‘I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest.’ ” Many scholars believe this refers to Zadok, who will be named the sole high priest when Abiathar (ED: GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF ELI) is deposed by Solomon (1 Kings 2:35). That event will establish the prominence of the line of Aaron’s son Eleazar (Zadok’s forefather) over that of Aaron’s son Ithamar (Abiathar’s ancestor). God will maintain a faithful cadre of priests. And, in time, He will send a perfectly faithful Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, to stand between Himself and His people in a truly eternal priesthood. CORAM DEO God’s judgment upon Eli’s house seems harsh. But we must remember that Eli was the high priest—more was expected of him and his family. When they began to depart from covenant faithfulness, God took action against them lest their sin lead the people further astray. God here is acting mercifully toward His people, as He always does. TODAY IN THE WORD 1 Samuel 2:30 Ezra 7:11-28 Those who honor me I will honor. - 1 Samuel 2:30 According to a recent newspaper story, some local governments of the United States have come up with a variation on the idea of prepaid expenses. The new initiative includes prepaid traffic tickets, which means putting money on deposit with the local authorities so that if you are stopped for speeding, your ticket has already been paid. Some people, bothered by the idea, see it as giving drivers permission to speed. Those who object to the concept of prepaid speeding tickets have a point. Human nature is such that it’s hard to be good and it’s easy to abuse a privilege when the bill has already been paid. All of the expenses for Ezra’s trip back to Jerusalem, and his ongoing needs in Israel (and then some), were “prepaid” by the generosity of the Persian king Artaxerxes. Ezra carried with him a sizable wealth that had been entrusted to his care, and he didn’t abuse this privilege. 1 Samuel 2:31 'Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's house so that there will not be an old man in your house. BGT 1 Samuel 2:31 ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται καὶ ἐξολεθρεύσω τὸ σπέρμα σου καὶ τὸ σπέρμα οἴκου πατρός σου KJV 1 Samuel 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. NET 1 Samuel 2:31 In fact, days are coming when I will remove your strength and the strength of your father's house. There will not be an old man in your house! CSB 1 Samuel 2:31 " 'Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestral family, so that none in your family will reach old age. ESV 1 Samuel 2:31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. NIV 1 Samuel 2:31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your family line NLT 1 Samuel 2:31 The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age. NRS 1 Samuel 2:31 See, a time is coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestor's family, so that no one in your family will live to old age. RSV 1 Samuel 2:31 Behold, the days are coming, when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. YLT 1 Samuel 2:31 'Lo, days are coming, and I have cut off thine arm, and the arm of the house of thy father, that an old man is not in thy house; NKJ 1 Samuel 2:31 `Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. NJB 1 Samuel 2:31 Be sure, the days are coming when I shall cut off your strength and the strength of your father's family, so that no one in your family will live to old age. I will break your strength: That is, I will destroy the strength, power, influence, and authority of thee and thy family; of which the arm of man being the instrument, is used as the emblem. 1Sa 4:2,11,17-20 14:3 22:17-20 1Ki 2:26,27,35 Job 22:9 Ps 37:17 Eze 30:21-24 44:10 1 Samuel 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE PROPHETIC CURSE ON ELI'S HOUSE Behold - That is "Pay attention" to what follows! The days are coming when I will break (literally - "shatter the arms of") your strength and the strength of your father's house so that there will not be an old man in your house - KJV "I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house." This is figurative because the arm was a picture of strength and might (Ps 10:15, Ps 77:15, Ps 89:10) NLT = "The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests." Eli would live to see this prophecy fulfilled. Bergen has an interesting comment that "The figure of speech “to shatter the arms” is without parallel elsewhere in OT literature and prefigures what happened literally to the statue of Dagon in 1Sa 5:4+. As such it draws a subtle yet significant parallel between the judgment against the house of Eli and that of the house of Dagon. Both involved Yahweh bringing about the downfall of central figures related to their respective sanctuaries following a time when Yahweh’s reputation was in doubt. By literarily paralleling the judgments, the narrator was in effect equating Shiloh’s condition under Eli with that of a pagan house of worship, reinforcing the image of life in Israel presented in the Book of Judges. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary)