◄ 1 Samuel 2:17 ►
Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD's offering with contempt.
Study Bible
Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD
The "young men" refers to the sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests serving at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Their actions were not only a personal failing but a violation of their sacred duties. In the context of the Old Testament, priests were mediators between God and the people, and their conduct was expected to be exemplary. The severity of their sin is underscored by the phrase "in the sight of the LORD," indicating that their actions were not hidden from God and were judged by His holy standards. This phrase echoes the biblical principle that God sees and judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The gravity of their sin is further highlighted by the fact that it was committed in a religious setting, where reverence and obedience were paramount.

for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt
The offerings referred to here are the sacrifices brought by the Israelites to the tabernacle, which were meant to honor God and atone for sin. Hophni and Phinehas were taking portions of the sacrifices that were not rightfully theirs, as described earlier in 1 Samuel 2:12-16. This act of contempt was not merely a breach of ritual but a direct affront to God, who had established these offerings as a means of worship and reconciliation. Their actions showed a blatant disregard for the sacredness of the offerings and, by extension, for God Himself. This contempt is reminiscent of Cain's unacceptable offering in Genesis 4:5, where the heart attitude behind the offering was as important as the offering itself. The sons' behavior foreshadows the later corruption of the priesthood, which would ultimately lead to the need for a perfect High Priest, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Eli
The high priest of Shiloh, who was responsible for the tabernacle and the spiritual leadership of Israel. He was the father of Hophni and Phinehas.

2. Hophni and Phinehas
The sons of Eli, who served as priests but were corrupt and disobedient to God's laws. Their actions are central to this verse.

3. Shiloh
The religious center of Israel at the time, where the tabernacle was located and where Eli and his sons served.

4. The LORD's Offering
Refers to the sacrifices and offerings made by the Israelites to God, which were being mishandled by Eli's sons.

5. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who is deeply offended by the contempt shown by Eli's sons towards His offerings.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
The verse highlights the severity of sin, especially when it involves disrespecting what is sacred to God. Believers must recognize the gravity of sin and its impact on their relationship with God.

Responsibility of Spiritual Leaders
Eli's failure to restrain his sons serves as a warning to spiritual leaders about the importance of accountability and discipline within their families and ministries.

Reverence for God's Offerings
The contempt shown by Eli's sons for the offerings underscores the need for reverence and respect in worship and service to God.

Consequences of Disobedience
The eventual judgment on Eli's house illustrates that persistent disobedience and contempt for God's commands lead to severe consequences.

Integrity in Service
Those serving in ministry must maintain integrity and honor in their duties, ensuring that their actions align with God's standards.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the behavior of Hophni and Phinehas reflect a broader issue of spiritual neglect, and what can we learn from this about maintaining our spiritual disciplines?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our worship and service to God are conducted with the reverence and respect He deserves?

3. How does Eli's response to his sons' actions challenge us to address sin and wrongdoing within our own families or communities?

4. What are some modern-day examples of treating God's offerings with contempt, and how can we guard against such attitudes?

5. How can the consequences faced by Eli's family serve as a warning to us about the importance of obedience and accountability in our walk with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 7:28-36
Provides the laws regarding the priests' share of the offerings, which Hophni and Phinehas violated by taking more than their due.

Malachi 1:6-14
Discusses the contempt shown by priests towards God's offerings, similar to the actions of Eli's sons.

1 Samuel 3:11-14
God's judgment against Eli's house due to the sins of his sons, showing the consequences of their actions.

Hebrews 10:26-31
Warns against willful sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, paralleling the deliberate sins of Hophni and Phinehas.
Sermons
A Degenerate PriesthoodB. Dale 1 Samuel 2:12-17
Corrupt Lives ContagiousW. G. Blaikie, D. D.1 Samuel 2:12-17
Degradation At the AltarRalph Brownrig.1 Samuel 2:12-17
Eli's HouseW. G. Blaikie, D. D.1 Samuel 2:12-17
File Priests and the Pure ChildG. B. Ryley.1 Samuel 2:12-17
Indulgent Home LifeJ. S. Exell, M. A.1 Samuel 2:12-17
Sinful and Childlike Ignorance of GodG. B. Ryley.1 Samuel 2:12-17
Sons of Eli, Sons of BelialJ. Parker, D. D.1 Samuel 2:12-17
The Sons of EliJ. Parker, D. D.1 Samuel 2:12-17
The Sons of EliA. Bonar.1 Samuel 2:12-17
People
Eli, Elkanah, Hannah, Hophni, Israelites, Pharaoh, Phinehas, Samuel
Places
Egypt, Ramah, Shiloh
Topics
Abhorred, Contempt, Contemptuously, Dealt, Despised, Honour, Lord's, Offering, Offerings, Presence, Sight, Sin, Thus, Treated, Treating, Wherefore
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 2:17

     5896   irreverence
     7368   grain offering

1 Samuel 2:12-17

     5311   extortion
     6616   atonement, in OT

1 Samuel 2:17-18

     5746   youth

Library
The Child Prophet
'And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 8. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4. That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5. And he ran onto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Reverence in Worship.
"Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod."--1 Samuel ii. 18. Samuel, viewed in his place in sacred history, that is, in the course of events which connect Moses with Christ, appears as a great ruler and teacher of his people; this is his prominent character. He was the first of the prophets; yet, when we read the sacred narrative itself, in which his life is set before us, I suppose those passages are the more striking and impressive which represent him, in …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Though the Fore-Mentioned Eternal Moral Obligations
are incumbent indeed on all rational creatures, antecedent to any respect of particular reward or punishment, yet they must certainly and necessarily be attended with rewards and punishments: Because the same reasons, which prove God himself to be necessarily just and good, and the rules of justice, equity, and goodness, to be his unalterable will, law, and command, to all created beings; prove also that he cannot but be pleased with and approve such creatures as imitate and obey him by observing …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Letter xxix. To Marcella.
An explanation of the Hebrew words Ephod bad (1 Sam. ii. 18) and Teraphim (Judges xvii. 5). Written at Rome to Marcella, also at Rome a.d. 384. …
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

A Private Enquiry
"What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee?"--1 Samuel 3:17. THE Lord would not speak directly to Eli, although he was the High Priest. In ordinary circumstances it would have been so; but Eli had grieved the Lord, and thus had lost his honorable standing. God had not cast him off; but he viewed him with such displeasure that he would only speak to him through another person: even as great kings, if they are offended with their courtiers, send them messages by other hands. The Lord sent, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Appendix xix. On Eternal Punishment, According to the Rabbis and the New Testament
THE Parables of the Ten Virgins' and of the Unfaithful Servant' close with a Discourse on the Last Things,' the final Judgment, and the fate of those Christ's Righ Hand and at His Left (St. Matt. xxv. 31-46). This final Judgment by our Lord forms a fundamental article in the Creed of the Church. It is the Christ Who comes, accompanied by the Angelic Host, and sits down on the throne of His Glory, when all nations are gathered before Him. Then the final separation is made, and joy or sorrow awarded …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Mystery
Of the Woman dwelling in the Wilderness. The woman delivered of a child, when the dragon was overcome, from thenceforth dwelt in the wilderness, by which is figured the state of the Church, liberated from Pagan tyranny, to the time of the seventh trumpet, and the second Advent of Christ, by the type, not of a latent, invisible, but, as it were, an intermediate condition, like that of the lsraelitish Church journeying in the wilderness, from its departure from Egypt, to its entrance into the land …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods? Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou in Thy mercy hast led Thy people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to the habitation of Thy holiness ... The holy place, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.' --Ex. xv. 11-17. In these words we have another step in advance in the revelation of Holiness. We have here for the first time Holiness predicated of God Himself. He …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Sanctification.
VI. Objections answered. I will consider those passages of scripture which are by some supposed to contradict the doctrine we have been considering. 1 Kings viii. 46: "If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near," etc. On this passage, I remark:-- 1. That this sentiment in nearly the same language, is repeated in 2 Chron. vi. 26, and in Eccl. …
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity the Christian Calling and Unity.
Text: Ephesians 4, 1-6. 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Entire Sanctification
By Dr. Adam Clarke The word "sanctify" has two meanings. 1. It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. 2. It signifies to make holy or pure. Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do in us! and yet all that he has done for us is in reference to what he is to do in us. He was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again from the dead; ascended to heaven, and there …
Adam Clarke—Entire Sanctification

The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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