1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 2:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He often advised with words like, "No, my children, do not do this; the rumors I hear are not good." While his admonitions held the potential for correction, his lack of earnest effort ultimately turned God's favor against him and his family. By sparing them from rightful discipline, he compromised both his and their salvation.

Aside from his negligence as a father, God had no charge against this old man. Yet, if God brought destruction upon him and his household due to his relatively minor failures, how much more would He fail to hold accountable those who commit greater sins? Eli, despite being a priest, esteemed, and having led the nation of Israel for twenty years, could not find justification for his shortcomings; his negligence overwhelmed all his deeds like a tidal wave. If Eli faced such fate, what shall be the punishment of those who are less virtuous and not only fail to guide their children but treat them with greater cruelty than those who are barbaric? Just as individuals cannot expect leniency for their own sins, parents cannot anticipate pardon for the misdeeds of their offspring.

It would be unreasonable to expect justification for their behavior if sin were intrinsic to human nature. However, since we are capable of both good and evil, what justification could there be for allowing one's beloved child to become corrupted? We ought not to leave wealth for our children but rather impart virtue. It is unwise to neglect preparing them to manage their inheritance during our lifetimes, only to release them into frivolous pursuits after our passing. While we are alive, we can demand accountability and guide them against misuse; but in death, relinquishing them without guidance may lead to a host of calamities. Therefore, our focus should be on bequeathing them virtue rather than riches, for trust in material wealth can blind them to moral corruption. Conversely, when they face deprivation of comforts, they will seek solace in the enriching power of virtue.

Let us not engage in personal or public ambitions until we have steered our children’s souls towards righteousness. If we raise our sons well, they will, in turn, uphold the same standards with their children, creating an enduring legacy of excellence that roots itself in our initial efforts and blossoms through the diligence of successive generations. To neglect the upbringing of our children is akin to infanticide, for it endangers their souls profoundly. Just as one would halt a horse from careening towards ruin with firm discipline, we must also address our children's wrongdoings decisively. We should restrain the sinner until they can turn back to God, avoiding the worse kind of bondage that awaits the unrestrained.

Some may argue that a child has endured enough correction. But what is the measure of sufficiency? Is it a matter of months or years? More important is the state of the soul. Has there been repentance or transformation? If not, time alone achieves little. We must not only dress wounds frequently but ensure that the healing bandages serve a purpose. Eager care manifests more than mere authority; it embodies deep love for those entrusted to one’s care. A father does not simply father by begetting but by loving the life he has created. This love, vital in the realm of nature, is all the more essential in the realm of grace.

Therefore, I urge you to safeguard both your own virtue and the integrity of the young. Every evil is birthed from neglected virtues, fostering habits that can entrap individuals to the point they become reluctant prisoners to the adversary. This adversary leads them to folly, catering to their momentary desires while obscuring the sorrow that may follow. I beseech you to assist our children, lest we ourselves bear the weight of their failings. Consider the fate of Eli the elder, who suffered immensely for failing to correct his children properly. When a serious illness calls for drastic measures, mere ointment will fail; just as a physician must use appropriate treatment, a father must apply fitting correction. Like Eli, who was too lenient in addressing the faults of his sons and thus faced punishment alongside them, we must heed this warning.

Let us care deeply for the upbringing of our children. Each among us should strive to promote the good of our neighbors, recognizing it as a profound benefit to ourselves, guiding all towards virtue. By so doing, we may avoid the trials of temptation and, ultimately, receive the great favor from above that is attainable through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom be glory and honor to the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Additionally, Eli, as recorded, met a tragic end, having received the prophecy that his lineage would lose their priestly honor, a fate that indeed transpired. What a calamity had befallen the people! This was the situation of the father, who throughout his life had faced no accusations against him and who had continually admonished his sons not to engage in such actions, declaring, “Do not do this, my sons, for the report I hear is not good.” With even greater urgency, he highlighted the seriousness of their sin by stating, “If a man sins against another, they can pray to God. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Despite these warnings, he lacked the necessary fervor in addressing his sons’ actions, leading to the aforementioned consequences. Throughout the Old Testament, one can find numerous instances of such divine judgments resulting from disobedience.

What you might perceive as a form of admonition is rather a sign of a lack of love for God, which reveals Elijah's actions to be at the very edge of tolerance. Importantly, Elijah himself, through his own words, acknowledged the wickedness of his sons, as recorded: “And Elijah grew very old: and he heard what his sons did to all the children of Israel.... And he said unto them, Why do ye do according to this word, which I hear out of the mouth of all the Lord's people (about you)? Neither, children, neither: for the hearing which I hear of you is not good”: it does not serve the Lord. “But if a man sin to a man, he shall pray to the Lord for him: but if a man sin to the Lord, who shall pray for him?” (1 Sam. 2:22-25). Thus, based on the father’s own testimony, we must conclude that his sons were exceedingly wicked. It was not merely one individual, but all, from the smallest to the greatest, were in uproar against them, as Eli himself affirms: “Why do ye do according to this word, which I hear out of the mouth of all the Lord's people?” They not only violated and led others astray regarding the sacred offerings, but they also turned people away from making sacrifices; furthermore, horrified by the abhorrent actions committed by Eli’s sons, many contemplated abandoning their faith.

For this cause the Lord God of Israel saith: I say, Thy house, and thy father's house, shall pass before Me unto the ages of ages: and now is not so, saith the Lord: not even I; for I will glorify them that glorify Me, and they that humiliate Me shall be humbled” (1 Sam. 2:29, 30). While this prophecy may seem to only strip Eli’s lineage of the high priesthood, it also intimates the end of the entire Jewish priestly system. For it states that Eli’s lineage shall no longer hold significance until the end of days. However, the promise of the priesthood was made to Aaron, and not to Ithamar, thus passing judgment on Eli’s descendants. This is evidenced by historical events: following the crucifixion of Christ, the temple was destroyed, the Holy of Holies lay in ruin, and they lost both their high priesthood and prophetic voice. This is further declared: “These days come, and I will consume thy seed, and the seed of thy father's house, and there shall be no old man in thy house all the days. And thou shalt see the power that is in all, by them shall Israel be blasphemed, and there shall not be an old man in thy house all the days” (1 Sam. 2:31, 32). The power referenced comes from God, identified as the Son. For He declared, “I am the Son” (Exod. 3:14), and Jeremiah acknowledged: “O Lord God is the Son” (Jer. 1:6). By His might, He established the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. He articulates this more explicitly when he says: “I will set up for myself a faithful Priest, who shall do all things that are in my heart, and all things that are in my soul: and I will build him a faithful house, and he shall go before my anointed ones all the days” (1 Sam. 2:35). Such attributes belong only to our Lord Jesus Christ, designated our Hierarch in accordance with His humanity. It is stated: “We have ... a great Hierarch, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus our Lord” (Hebrews 4:14); and again, “We have no Hierarch who is unable to bear our infirmities, but is tempted after the likeness of all men, except sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The phrase “for all the days” does not pertain to mortal beings who have a brief existence. Instead, it refers to the holy Apostles and their successors who are anointed. Thus, this prophecy ultimately pertains to the Savior, Christ, as well as historically to Zadok, who, as a descendant of Eleazar, received the priesthood through Solomon.