SECTION A: THEMES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Recount the effects of the behaviour of Eli’s children on Israel as a nation (1 Samuel 2:12-36, 3:2-18, 4:10-22).

Answer Details

Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were priests at Shiloh but were wicked men who did not know the Lord. Their corrupt behaviour brought grievous effects upon Israel as a nation.

Their misconduct: They treated the offerings of the Lord with contempt, seizing meat by force before the fat was burned; they threatened worshippers, and they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Thus they made the people despise the offerings of the Lord.

Effects on Israel:

• Worship was corrupted and despised. The sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, and the people came to abhor the sacrifices.
• Divine judgement was pronounced. A man of God, and later the boy Samuel, prophesied that the house of Eli would be cut off and that both sons would die on the same day.
• Israel was defeated in battle. The Philistines defeated Israel at Ebenezer, killing about four thousand men.
• The Ark of God was captured. When Israel foolishly carried the Ark into battle for protection, the Philistines routed them and captured the Ark, and thirty thousand foot soldiers fell.
• Hophni and Phinehas died. Both sons were slain on the same day, fulfilling the prophecy.
• Eli died. On hearing that the Ark was captured, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died, having judged Israel forty years.
• National grief and the departure of God's glory. The wife of Phinehas gave birth and named her son Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," for the Ark of God had been captured.