Topical Bible: Judgments: Eli's House

◄ Judgments: Eli's House ►

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The judgment upon the house of Eli is a significant event in the Old Testament, illustrating the consequences of disobedience and the failure to uphold God's standards, particularly among those in spiritual leadership. Eli, a priest and judge of Israel, served at Shiloh where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. His account is primarily found in the book of 1 Samuel.

Background

Eli served as a priest during a time when the word of the Lord was rare, and visions were infrequent (1 Samuel 3:1). He had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who also served as priests. However, they were corrupt and did not know the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12). They committed grievous sins, including taking the best portions of the sacrifices for themselves and engaging in immoral acts with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (1 Samuel 2:13-17, 22).

Divine Warning

Despite their wickedness, Eli failed to restrain his sons effectively. He rebuked them but did not remove them from their priestly duties (1 Samuel 2:23-25). As a result, a man of God came to Eli with a prophetic message of judgment. The Lord declared that He would cut off Eli's strength and the strength of his father's house, ensuring that no one in his family would reach old age (1 Samuel 2:31). Furthermore, the Lord promised to raise up a faithful priest who would do according to what was in His heart and mind (1 Samuel 2:35).

The Prophecy to Samuel

The judgment against Eli's house was confirmed through a revelation to the young Samuel, whom Eli was mentoring. The Lord called Samuel and revealed that He was about to do something in Israel that would make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle (1 Samuel 3:11). The Lord reiterated the judgment against Eli's house, stating that the iniquity of Eli's house would never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering (1 Samuel 3:14).

Fulfillment of Judgment

The judgment pronounced upon Eli's house came to pass during a battle with the Philistines. The Israelites were defeated, and the Ark of God was captured. Both Hophni and Phinehas were killed on the same day, fulfilling the prophecy that both sons would die on the same day as a sign to Eli (1 Samuel 2:34; 1 Samuel 4:11). Upon hearing the news of the Ark's capture and the death of his sons, Eli fell backward from his seat, broke his neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:18).

Aftermath

The judgment on Eli's house continued beyond his death. The priesthood eventually passed to Zadok, fulfilling the prophecy of a faithful priest (1 Kings 2:27, 35). The account of Eli and his sons serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness and integrity in spiritual leadership. It underscores the principle that those who honor God will be honored, but those who despise Him will be disdained (1 Samuel 2:30).

References

· 1 Samuel 2:12-36
· 1 Samuel 3:1-21
· 1 Samuel 4:1-22
· 1 Kings 2:27, 35

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 2:27-36
And there came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, Thus said the LORD, Did I plainly appear to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 4:10-22
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty
... Thus when God was about to visit Eli's house, he thus ... I said indeed, that thy house,
and the house of thy ... and if these signal mercies and judgments do not lead ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/thankfulness for mercies received a.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... The sons of Eli "hearkened not unto the voice of ... them tell me whether God exercises
his Judgments willingly or ... which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain"
(Exod.3:12); God's threatened judgments upon the house of Eli with the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. ... has been ineffectual
as to cause that humility and reformation, by which his judgments must be ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

The Historical Books.
... the disorders that prevailed under Eli's administration, for ... upon his family severe
judgments; the invasion ... with the accompanying war between the house of Saul ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... of Zion." [1462] Under the figures of Eli's death and ... that the great house and the
little house shall fall. ... that it hath alway unto thy judgments." [1515] But ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm

Instruction for the Ignorant:
... 21:10), Esau hated (Galatians 4:30), Eli's sons died ... thy sin, thou subscribest to
his righteous judgments that are ... thief or a traitor in his house, brings him ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/instruction for the ignorant .htm

The Northern Iron and the Steel
... As a loving father, fearful of Eli's doom, uses the rod ... of your teeth from shipwreck;
but even the judgments of God ... Except the Lord build the house, they labor ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the northern iron and the.htm

Of Uncharitable Truth.
... It was a Curse denounced against Eli's offspring, that they ... come to be proclaimed
upon the house top: so ... And indeed, in all private Judgments so much depends ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section vi of uncharitable truth.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... he saith, "But as for me, I will come into thy house in the ... 4. The judgments that
sometimes God hath executed upon men for their want of ... (2.) Eli's sons, for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm