The Sons of Eli

Hophni and Phinehas were the sons of Eli.

They were priests of the LORD.

The text says they were worthless men.

It says they did not know the LORD.

When anyone offered a sacrifice, a servant would come with a three-pronged fork.

He would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron.

Whatever the fork brought up, the priest took for himself.

They did this to all of Israel who came to Shiloh.

They were taking the meat before the fat was burned.

The fat was supposed to go to God first.

If someone insisted on burning the fat first, the servant threatened to take it by force.

The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD.

They treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.

And they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Eli heard about it.

He asked them why they were doing such things.

He said the reports were not good.

He asked if they thought they could sin and still be protected.

But they did not listen to the voice of their father.

Because it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.

A man of God came to Eli.

He asked: Why do you honor your sons more than you honor me?

He said Eli had grown fat on the best of the offerings while the sons despised God.

The sentence came.

Both of them would die on the same day.

God would raise up a faithful priest.

It came true at the battle where the Philistines took the ark.

Hophni and Phinehas died.

Eli heard the news, fell backward off his chair, broke his neck, and died.

The sons had stolen offerings and treated the sanctuary as their own supply.

Eli had known and spoken softly.

Both fathers failed their sons.

Both sons failed everyone else.

And the ark ended up in Philistine hands.

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