THEMES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT (a) Recount the effects of the behaviour of Eli's children on Israel as a nation ( 11 marks ) (b) What two lessons can be lear...

(a) The effects of the behaviour of Eli's children on Israel as a nation (1 Samuel 2:12-36; 4:1-22)

Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests at Shiloh but were worthless men (sons of Belial) who did not know the LORD. Their corrupt behaviour and its effects on Israel were as follows:

• They abused the priestly office by seizing the best of the sacrificial meat for themselves before the fat was offered to God, taking it by force with a fork, and threatening worshippers. Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for they treated the offering of the LORD with contempt, and this made the people despise the worship of God.
• They committed immorality, lying with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting, defiling the sanctuary and bringing the priesthood into disrepute.
• Because of their wickedness, a man of God (and later the young Samuel) pronounced judgement on Eli's house: both sons would die on the same day, and the priesthood would be taken from his family.
• Their sin brought national disaster. When Israel went to war against the Philistines, they were defeated and, in presumption, brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle. Israel was routed, about thirty thousand foot soldiers fell, Hophni and Phinehas were killed, and the Ark of God was captured.
• On hearing the news, Eli fell backward, broke his neck and died. His daughter-in-law, wife of Phinehas, died in childbirth, naming her son Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the Ark had been captured.

Thus the misconduct of Eli's sons led to military defeat, great loss of life, the capture of the Ark, the death of the priestly family, and a sense that God's glory had left the nation.

(b) Two lessons parents can learn from Eli's attitude

1. Parents must correct and discipline their children: Eli knew of his sons' evil but only rebuked them mildly and failed to restrain them, so parents should firmly guide and discipline their children before it is too late.
2. Parents will be held accountable for how they raise their children: Eli and his house suffered judgement partly because he honoured his sons above God; godly upbringing and putting God first are the responsibility of every parent.