What does 1 Samuel 2:29 mean?
Through an unnamed prophet, the Lord has asked Eli some pointed questions in the previous two verses (1 Samuel 2:27–28). These are really statements, or challenges, declaring a truth and almost daring Eli to disagree. Didn't the Lord show Himself to Eli's ancestors while Israel was in captivity in Egypt? Didn't the Lord choose Aaron out of all the tribes of Israel to carry out all the duties of the high priest? In fact, the Lord gave to the priests, including Eli, a portion of the offerings made by fire on the altar for their own food.So why, the Lord now asks, did Eli disrespect the practices the Lord commanded for His dwelling in the sanctuary? The literal Hebrew phrasing is that Eli "kicked at" such things. The imagery implies disrespect, much as a modern English speaker might use the metaphor of someone "spitting on" something. Why, the Lord asks, did Eli honor his sons above the Lord? Why did the priest of Israel and his sons fatten themselves on the choicest parts of the offerings instead of offering those to the Lord as the Law commands?
Thus far, the text has revealed Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas to be wicked, abusive men (1 Samuel 2:12). They leveraged their position as priests to demand the best cuts of the offerings before they were sacrificed (1 Samuel 2:15–17). They even slept with the women who came to serve at the sanctuary outside the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:22). The Lord already planned to put them to death (1 Samuel 2:25).
Now, though, the Lord holds Eli responsible for his enablement of his sons' actions. They were under his supervision (1 Samuel 3:13). Because Eli tolerated their sins, instead of holding them accountable, he was guilty of honoring his depraved sons above the Lord. Like many parents before and since, Eli could not bring himself to properly discipline his own children. Then, as now, such choices often result in the child's condemnation and ultimately the shame of the parent (Proverbs 17:25; 19:26).
Scripture is not clear about when, or how often, Eli confronted his sons about their sins. The Lord's questions to Eli resemble Eli's questions to his boys about why they did such things (1 Samuel 2:23). The difference is that Eli took no action when his boys refused to change direction. Now the Lord was going to step in and hold all three of them accountable.
Finally, the Lord includes Eli in the charge of fattening himself along with them on the choicest cuts of the sacrifices. Eli was not entirely separate from these events. He did not merely tolerate his sons' abuses. He also benefited from them.
First Samuel 2:27–36 describes a meeting between Eli and an unnamed prophet of the Lord. The anonymous messenger confronts the old priest, as the Lord asks Eli why he has insulted the Lord's sacrifices and honored his own sons over God. For this sin, God will afflict Eli's descendants, causing all who come after him to die young. Eli's own two sons will die on the same day as a sign this is true. The Lord will raise up a faithful priest from another branch of the family line of priests.
After delivering Samuel to the Lord, Hannah offers a poetic prayer of praise. The sons of Eli the priest are evil, depraved men who abuse their power as priests. They coerce worshippers to give them additional meat. They sleep with women who serve at the sanctuary. In contrast, Samuel grows in favor with God and others as he grows up physically. Hannah and Elkanah continue to go to Shiloh yearly; they also have more children. Eli rebukes his sons, but they don't repent. The Lord tells Eli that all his descendants will die young and his two rebellious sons will die on the same day. The Lord will raise up a faithful priest to do His will.
