What does 1 Samuel 2:32 mean?
God's statement of impending on Eli continues. Eli's family will survive to see Israel blessed with prosperity at the same time his own line of descendants live in continual distress. Some commentators understand this verse to say that the sanctuary and those who serve in it will be distressed or diminished even as the rest of Israel grows strong and wealthy.Why will Eli's descendants and the sanctuary, in general, suffer so much while Israel grows stronger? It will be because none of Eli's sons or grandsons or descendants will reach old age, bringing stability and continuity to the family or the sanctuary. Instead, every one of them will die young and the line of the family will shrivel up (1 Samuel 2:31).