1 Samuel 2:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.

NIV: If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?" His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

NASB: If one person sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?' But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death.

CSB: If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.

NLT: If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?' But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

KJV: If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

NKJV: If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.

Eli is clearly hoping his sons will understand the seriousness of their sinful actions. He hopes to see sorrow and a change of heart in his boys. He wants them to understand they could be facing dire consequences from the Lord for abusing their role as priests of Israel. Specifically, they've been taking advantage of the people for profit and for sex (1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22).

He reiterates to tells Hophni and Phinehas what they should know better than anyone: if someone sins against another person, the Lord will step in and mediate between them. The law of Moses included provisions from God meant to protect those who had harmed another and wanted to make it right. In that way, the Lord became the third party between two people to bring about resolution to conflict. As priests, Eli and his sons were meant to help enforce and carry out those provisions between people in conflict.

Yet, if someone sins directly against God, the old covenant provides no designated mediator between the sinner and the Lord. Those who sin directly to God's face, so to speak, can communicate via priests, but cannot appeal to a third party to protect them from the Lord's judgment. The priests served directly before the Lord, in His presence, as mediators between the Lord and the people. When the priests sinned in their work, they did so directly against the Lord's purpose to be connected to His people. The priests had nowhere to hide from God.

That's the immediate sense of Eli's message to his sons. In a larger sense, though, everyone who sins does so against the Lord. David recognized that in confessing his own sin (Psalm 51:4). The lack of a direct, absolute mediator between sinful humans and God was the seemingly hopeless problem for which Jesus Christ was the solution (1 Timothy 2:5–6).

Eli's sons refused to listen to their father or repent from their sin. While God is forgiving, even of sinners, there are still consequences for our actions. And, eventually, God will stop offering opportunities to change one's ways (Proverbs 29:1). This verse suggests the sons' refusal to repent was connected to the Lord's will. Perhaps God hardened their hearts against repentance as He did to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21; 7:13; 9:34; 11:10) so He could carry out His perfect justice against their sin. Perhaps, as did Pharaoh, Phinehas and Hophni have crossed their points of no return, and it was too late to turn back. The Lord had already determined to put them to death for corrupting the priesthood and Israel's system of worship.

First Samuel 2:22–26 describes Eli's rebuke of his sons Hophni and Phinehas for their abuse of their power as priests over Israel. In addition to taking the best cuts of meat for themselves, the pair have been sleeping with the female servants at the sanctuary. The news of their corruption is spreading everywhere. Eli asks who will intercede for them when they sin directly against the Lord. Still, they refuse to repent because the Lord has already marked them for death. Samuel, meanwhile, continues to grow in favor with the Lord and with other people.

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.

The prior chapter explained how Hannah cried out to God for a son, and that her request was granted. First Samuel 2 begins with Hannah's praise to the Lord in response. Samuel remains in Shiloh where he ministers and matures. By contrast, Eli's sons are wicked and abuse their power as priests. A prophet reveals that God will cause all Eli's descendants to die young and his two sons to die on the same day. The Lord will raise up a faithful priest from another part of the family line. This provides background for Samuel's call from God in chapter 3.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.