Word In Life Study Bible
ELI, THE FAILED LEADER OF SHILOH
1 Sam.2:12
Eli served as a priest and judge of Israel for forty years (1 Sam. 4:18). It was not an easy time in which to exercise leadership. Israel had no centralized government, and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25)—including Eli’s own sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They abused the sacrificial system and committed immorality with the women at the tabernacle (1 Sam. 2:12–17, 22).
Eli was in a position to put a stop to these abuses, but he was not equal to the task. Eli was unable either to restrain his sons or to remove them from the priesthood, and he and his descendants fell under the scathing judgment of God (2:27–36).
Yet one bright spot of hope emerged from Eli’s household—the boy Samuel, who in contrast to Eli’s wicked sons, followed the Lord and grew up to be one of Israel’s greatest judges (2:17–18; 3:1, 19–20).
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
Print
Email
