Before we consider Eli (in Israel pronounced “el-ee:) I want to note that Elkanah also was a person of faith. He went up yearly to Shiloh, which, from the “mountains of Ephraim” (1:1) was not a long journey. It was a family trip. This was his way of expressing his faith. I know that the men of Israel were supposed to go up during three feasts (Ex. 23:14-17). But his words to Hannah were, onlu let the LORD establish His word (1:23). If his faith is “remarkable” it would only be because of the lack of faith in the time of the Judges.
The fact that all this is happening during that time makes the conflicted faith of Eli seem almost “normal.” I can imagine (i.e. I have no reason to believe or deny this) that Eli also had a Messianic expectation. But he clearly had a deficiency in his faith as seen in his unwillingness (not “inability,” but “unwillingness”) to deal with his sons.
In the very beginning of the OT priesthood God had killed the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu. Now we see that God “desired to kill” the sons of Eli. “Desired” in Hebrew means to delight in. What strong words. And again, in reflecting on Aaron, God forbade him to even shed a tear for his dead sons (Lev. 10:3,6). And Aaron was obedient to that difficult command. The reason for it all was that Aaron was the priest, the High Priest of Israel, the one who came near to God on behalf of the people. By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified (Lev. 10:3). That was the way it had to be. Thus, Eli was reproved and judged by God. He knew the requirements of being the priest. The words are similar: those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed (2:30). Because of Eli’s reluctance to remove his sons, around 150 years later the line of the High Priest would change to another branch of the house of Aaron (1 Ki. 2:27). He honored his sons more than God (2:29).
Are their positive things that can be said about Eli? He did speak for God (1:17; 2:20). But then, so did Caiaphas in the time of Jesus (Jh. 11:49-52). He did reprove his sons verbally (2:22-25). But his responsibility and authority required that he go much further.
So God reproved Eli (2:27-36). Eli did not argue with the prophet sent by God. And he did not plead with God to change His mind. And as we see in 1 Sam. 3:18, when Samuel told Eli what the LORD had said, Eli’s response was an expression of his faith: It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him.
This is a hard story. But it is a pertinent story for us, on this side of the cross. Jesus said, For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Resist the temptation to feel sorry for Eli. Embrace the glory of God, who is always glorified when we exalt His Son!
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