1 Samuel 2:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,

NIV: Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled

NASB: And this was the custom of the priests with the people: when anyone was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was cooking, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.

CSB: or the priests' share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling

NLT: or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling,

KJV: And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

NKJV: And the priests’ custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.

The previous verse declared that Eli's two sons, priests who served under his supervision in the tabernacle, were worthless men who did not know the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12). This verse provides an example of their complete disregard for the Lord and the sacrificial system He established for Israel.

The law of Moses made it clear that the priests were to receive a portion of the sacrifices of the people for their own personal food. Deuteronomy 18:3 describes this as the priests' due from the people. The Law also made it clear, however, exactly which parts of the animal were to go to the priests. During a peace offering, the fat was to be burned on the altar, and the priests were to receive the breast meat and the right thigh (Leviticus 7:29–36).

Over time, the people of the Israel paid less and less attention to the law of Moses and blended their worship of the Lord with the practices of the pagan worshipers of the false gods and idols of the day. The custom at Shiloh may have come from one of those other religions.

Those bringing the peace offering would also receive a portion of the meat to eat by God's design (Leviticus 7:11–18). That meat would apparently be boiled (Numbers 6:19–20). The custom during this time was that the priest's servant would bring a three-pronged fork and plunge it into the pot. The priest kept for himself whatever was pulled out (1 Samuel 2:14), likely in addition to the breast and thigh meat he received following the offering.

First Samuel 2:12–21 contrasts Eli's sons with Hannah's son Samuel. Eli's sons are worthless men who don't know the Lord. They abuse their power as priests to take the best cuts of animals offered for themselves, treating the sacrifice to the Lord with contempt. Samuel, just a boy, ministers to the Lord at the sanctuary. Hannah brings him a new robe each year and Eli blesses her with a prayer for more children. She has three more sons and two daughters with her husband Elkanah. Samuel grows up in God's presence at the sanctuary.

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.