1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

16 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionEarlier in Israel's history another Phinehas, the godly son of another priest, Eleazar, hadexecuted an Israelite named Zimri and a Moabite woman named Cozbi for practicingsexual immorality in the tabernacle (Num. 25). Now this Phinehas, a priest and the son ofanother priest, Eli, was practicing sexual immorality in the tabernacle. How far the priestshad departed from the Lord during the approximately 300 years that separated theseincidents!While Eli's sons were growing in disfavor with the Lord and the Israelites (vv. 22-25),Samuel was growing in favor with both (v. 26; cf. Luke 2:52) because he was obeyingGod.4. The oracle against Eli's house 2:27-36The rest of the chapter explains why God would put Eli's sons to death (v. 25). Thespecific criticism that the man of God (a prophet, cf. 9:9-10) directed against Eli and hissons was two-fold. They had not appreciated God's grace extended to them in the Exodusdeliverance nor the opportunity to serve Him as priests (vv. 27-29). "Kick at" (NASB, v.29; cf. Deut. 32:15) means to "scorn" (NIV, Heb. ba'at). It is a serious matter toundervalue the grace of God. God had initiated blessing, but they had not respondedappropriately, namely, with gratitude, trust, and obedience. Eli's guilt (v. 29) lay in hisfailure to rebuke his sons severely for their sin (3:13), though he did warn them of God'sjudgment (2:25). He also enjoyed the fruits of their disobedient worship (2:13-16). HadEli grown fat from eating the best portions that his sons extorted from the people (cf.4:18)?Many students of this book have identified verse 30 as its key verse because it articulatesthe principle that the books of Samuel illustrate. Every section of 1 and 2 Samueldemonstrates the truth of this statement.God's judgment on Eli and his sons wasthat He would dishonor them. God hadpromised that Levi's descendants wouldserve Him forever as priests, namely, aslong as Israel existed as a nation (Exod.29:9; Num. 25:13). Now God revealed thatHe would cut off Eli's branch of theLevitical family tree. Eli was a descendantof Levi through Levi's son Ithamar. Hisdescendants ceased to function as priestswhen Solomon dismissed Abiathar as highpriest. Abiathar escaped the slaughter ofthe priests at Nob (22:17-20), but Solomondefrocked him because he supportedAdonijah (1 Kings 2:27, 35).THE ANCESTORS OF ABIATHAR AND ZADOKAaronEleazarPhinehasIthamarEliAbishuaHophni PhinehasAhitub IchabodAhitubZadokAhijah AhimelechAbiatharThe faithful priest God promised to raiseup (v. 35) was initially Samuel (3:1, 20; 7:9; 9:2-13). Zadok, a descendant of Levi's son