ELI AND HIS SONS

Shortly (23) before Samuel entered upon his novitiate in the
sanctuary, Eli succeeded to the three highest offices in the land: he
was made high priest, president of the Sanhedrin, and ruler over
the political affairs of Israel. Eli was a pious man, and devoted to
the study of the Torah, wherefore he attained to a good old age and
to high honors. (24) In his office as high priest he was successor to
no less a personage than Phinehas, who had lost his high-priestly
dignity on account of his haughty bearing toward Jephthah. With
Eli the line of Ithamar rose to power instead of the line of Eleazar.
(25) However, the iniquitous deed of his two sons brought dire
misfortune upon Eli and upon his family, though the Scriptural
account of their conduct may not be taken literally. The sons of Eli
transgressed only in that they sometimes kept the women waiting
who came to the sanctuary to bring the purification offerings, and
so they retarded their return to their families. (26) This was bad
enough for priest of God. Their misdeeds recoiled upon their
father, who was not strict enough in rebuking them. Eli's
punishment was that he aged prematurely, and, besides, he had to
give up his various offices.

During his lifetime, his youngest son Phinehas, the worthier of the
two, (27) officiated as high priest. The only reproach to which
Phinehas laid himself open was that he made no attempt to mend
his brother's ways.

The worst of God's decree against Eli he learned from Elkanah,
(28) the man of God who came unto Eli, and who announced that