1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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14 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionthose who appear to be important become unimportant. The crucial factor for them asIsraelites was their response to the will of God as contained in the Mosaic Covenant.God will bless people who want to further His program in the world by making itpossible for them to do that. He will even do supernatural things to enable them to do so.Natural limitations do not limit God. Knowledge of what God has revealed about Himselfand His program is what God uses to inspire trust in Himself and interest in His program.God will even reverse the fortunes of people in response to their response to His will.B. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN SAMUEL AND ELI'S SONS 2:11-36Samuel's innocence and the godlessness of Eli's sons contrast strongly in this pericope(section of text). Samuel would succeed and become a channel of God's blessing. Eli'ssons would fail, would become a source of frustration to Eli and to the Israelites, andwould ultimately perish."The section [2:11—4:1] poignantly illustrates the theme of 'Hannah'sSong' as it is epitomized in 2:7b, 'he brings low, and also exalts'. For it isunder the auspices of God who has determined the ruin of Hophni andPhinehas that Samuel makes his mark." 331. Eli's sons' wickedness 2:11-17Eli's sons were not only evil in their personal lives, but they flagrantly disregarded thewill of God even as they served as leaders of Israel's worship. They neither knew theLord (in the sense of paying attention to Him, v. 12) nor treated His offerings as special(v. 17; cf. Mal. 1:6-14). The writer documented these evaluations with two instances oftheir specific practices (vv. 13-14, and 15-16). The Law ordered the priests to handle theofferings in particular ways to respect God's holiness (cf. Lev. 3:3, 5; 7:34; Deut. 18:3).However, Eli's sons served God the way they chose (cf. Korah's behavior in Num. 32).The Law allowed the priests to take for themselves the breast and upper part of the rightrear leg of animals brought as peace offerings (Lev. 7:30-34). But Eli's sons took all thatthe three-pronged fork brought up when plunged into the remaining meat being boiled forthe sacrificial meal (vv. 13-14). The priests were to burn the best part of the sacrifices onthe altar as offerings to God, but Eli's sons demanded for themselves raw meat that wasnot cooked at all (vv. 15-16). Meat was luxurious food in Israel's economy, so Eli's sonswere living off the fat of the land. They were worthless men (v. 12, i.e., wicked in God'ssight; cf. 1:16)."To this day, arrogant assertiveness and self-seeking are temptations to allthose in positions of great power in society." 3433 Robert P. Gordon, I & II Samuel: A Commentary, p. 81.34 Payne, p. 18.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 15"Their sin was particularly egregious since they were supposed to beteaching morality and representing the people of God (2:22-25; cf. 2Chron. 17:7-9)." 352. Hannah's godly influence on Samuel and its effect 2:18-21In the previous paragraphs two statements about the main characters described them andframed the paragraph: they did not regard the Lord, and they despised the Lord'sofferings (vv. 12, 17). Likewise in this one the writer described Samuel as "before theLord" at the beginning and at the end (vv. 18, 21). Even though he was very young andhis service was probably menial at this time (cf. 3:15), Samuel lived sensitively beforeGod. The writer did not stress this sensitive spirit here; he only hinted at it. However itcomes out clearly later (e.g., ch. 4).In the central part of this section (vv. 18-19) the writer documented the support andencouragement to serve the Lord that Samuel received from his parents. The linen ephodwas a priestly garment, as was the robe (cf. Exod. 28:31; 2 Sam. 6:16). 36 Hannah dressedSamuel as a little priest showing that she respected this office and wanted her son to growup valuing it. 37Hannah's obedience resulted in God blessing Elkanah and Hannah even more (vv. 20-21).Among other blessings, God gave Hannah five additional children by overcoming herbarrenness and making her fertile (cf. Exod. 1:21; Ps. 127:3). Furthermore, Samuelcontinued to develop in a promising manner (cf. Luke 2:40, 52).3. Eli's lack of influence on his sons and its effect 2:22-26The sons of Eli followed the example of Canaanite worship rather than the instruction ofthe Mosaic Law. Ritual prostitution was part of Canaanite worship, and Eli's sons seem tohave adopted this custom. Even when their father confronted them with their sin Eli'ssons refused to repent. Frequently old men demonstrate wisdom, but Eli was not wiseenough to restrain the sinful behavior of his sons.The women referred to were evidently volunteer helpers in the service of the sanctuary(cf. Exod. 38:8). 38 Unintentional sin was pardonable under Mosaic law, but highhanded,deliberately rebellious sin was not, particularly ritual prostitution (cf. Num. 25:1-5; Deut.23:17; Amos 2:7-8). The punishment for highhanded sin was death (Num. 15:30). Godinitially judged Eli's sons by giving them hard hearts as a result of their sin before Hebrought final destruction on them (cf. Exod. 7:3; Rom. 1:24).35 Heater, p. 120.36 N. L. Tidwell, "The Linen Ephod: 1 Sam. II 18 and 2 Sam. VI 14," Vetus Testamentum 24:4 (October1974):505-7.37 Similarly today sometimes parents buy things for their children that will give them a love for those thingsand encourage them to pursue interest in them (e.g., a football, a child's cooking set, etc.).38 The Hebrew word tsaba' also means "assembled," but here it probably means "served."
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1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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