12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men ; they did not know the Lord 13 and the custom of the priests with the people . When any man was offering a sacrifice , the priest's servant would come while the meat was boiling , with a three-pronged e fork in his hand . 14 Then he would thrust it into the pan , or kettle , or caldron , or pot ; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Thus they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there . 15 Also , before they burned the fat , the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing , "Give the priest meat for roasting , as he will not take boiled meat from you, only e raw ." 16 If the man said to him, "They must surely burn the fat first , and then take as much as you desire ," then he would say , "No , but you shall give it to me now ; and if not, I will take it by force ." 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord , for the men despised the offering of the Lord . 18 Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord , as a boy wearing a linen ephod . 19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice . 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say , "May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated e to the Lord ." And they went to their own home . 21 The Lord visited Hannah ; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters . And the boy Samuel grew before the Lord . 22 Now Eli was very old ; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel , and how e they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting . 23 He said to them, "Why do you do such things , the evil things that I hear from all these people ? 24 "No , my sons ; for the report is not good which I hear the Lord'S people circulating . 25 "If one man sins against another , God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord , who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father , for the Lord desired to put them to death . 26 Now the boy Samuel was growing e in stature and in favor both with the Lord and with men .
27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the Lord , ' Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house ?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:12-27
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:11-26
(Read 1 Samuel 2:11-26)
Samuel, being devoted to the Lord in a special manner, was from a child employed about the sanctuary in the services he was capable of. As he did this with a pious disposition of mind, it was called ministering unto the Lord. He received a blessing from the Lord. Those young people who serve God as well as they can, he will enable to improve, that they may serve him better. Eli shunned trouble and exertion. This led him to indulge his children, without using parental authority to restrain and correct them when young. He winked at the abuses in the service of the sanctuary till they became customs, and led to abominations; and his sons, who should have taught those that engaged in the service of the sanctuary what was good, solicited them to wickedness. Their offence was committed even in offering the sacrifices for sins, which typified the atonement of the Saviour! Sins against the remedy, the atonement itself, are most dangerous, they tread under foot the blood of the covenant. Eli's reproof was far too mild and gentle. In general, none are more abandoned than the degenerate children of godly persons, when they break through restraints.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:27-36
(Read 1 Samuel 2:27-36)
Those who allow their children in any evil way, and do not use their authority to restrain and punish them, in effect honour them more than God. Let Eli's example excite parents earnestly to strive against the beginnings of wickedness, and to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the midst of the sentence against the house of Eli, mercy is promised to Israel. God's work shall never fall to the ground for want of hands to carry it on. Christ is that merciful and faithful High Priest, whom God raised up when the Levitical priesthood was thrown off, who in all things did his Father's mind, and for whom God will build a sure house, build it on a rock, so that hell cannot prevail against it.