1 Samuel 2:15-21 - The sin of the younge men was very great

2:15,16

2:15 describes a particular deviation from the Law. The fat was supposed to be purely for the Lord. These priests had no regard for the Law, nor for God, nor for the people. Whenever people abandon God’s ways one can be pretty sure that it is ordinary people who will suffer. Eli’s sons exploited the people. They even used force to do this. From time to time today we hear of religious leaders taking appalling advantage of church members, there is nothing new in this.

2:17

We now have a clear statement that their sin was “very great in the Lord’s sight”. They were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt. This showed contempt both for God and for His people who were making offerings in good faith.

2:18-21

We now get another contrast. Samuel, even though only a boy, was ministering to the Lord. The normal age for a priest to start performing his duties was actually about thirty. Hannah visited him once a year, and each year she brought a little robe for him. Hannah had devoted her son to the Lord, but she still loved him. Eli adopted a much better attitude towards Hannah and her family than before. He pronounced a blessing over the family, asking the Lord to give them many children to make up for the one given to the Lord. “The Lord was gracious to Hannah”, and she had three sons and two daughters. “Meanwhile Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord”.