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The Beginning of the End
Not content with their share of the peace offerings, the sons of
Eli demanded an additional portion. The priests took these sacrifices
as an opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
They not only demanded more than their right, but refused to even
wait until the fat had been burned as an offering to God. They
claimed whatever portion that they wanted, and if denied, threatened
to take it by force
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This irreverence robbed the service of its sacred meaning, and
the people “abhorred the offering of the Lord.” They no longer
recognized in the symbol of the offering the great Sacrifice to which
they were to look forward. “Therefore the sin of the young men was
very great before the Lord.”
These unfaithful priests dishonored their sacred position by their
evil, degrading practices. Many of the people were disgusted over
the corrupt practices of Hophni and Phinehas, and they stopped
coming to the place of worship. Ungodliness, immorality, and even
idolatry became common to a terrible level.
Eli had done great wrong in permitting his sons to minister as
priests. Making excuses for them for one reason or another, he
became blinded to their sins. But at last he could no longer hide
his eyes from the crimes of his sons. The people complained about
their evil deeds, and the high priest did not dare to remain silent
any longer. His sons saw the grief of their father, but their hard
hearts were not touched. They heard his mild rebukes, but they were
not impressed, and they would not change their evil course. If Eli
had treated his wicked sons according to law, they would have been
punished with death. Dreading to take any steps that would bring
public disgrace and condemnation on them, he kept them in the most
sacred positions of trust. He permitted them to corrupt the service of
God and inflict an injury on the cause of truth that years could not
undo. But God took the matter into His own hands.
Eli’s Unfaithfulness Leads to Ruin
“A man of God came to Eli and said to him, ‘Thus says the
Lord: ... “Why do you ... honor your sons more than Me, to make
yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?”
Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: “I said indeed that your house