Ever heard the names, Hophni and Phineas? These were the names of the rebellious priests, the sons of Eli, the high priest of the LORD in Shiloh.

These two brothers were corrupt in their ways and had no regard for God. They committed sacrilege time and again against the offering of the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:12,17(NKJV)

12 - Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.

17 - Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

It is explained in verse 13–16 how they abused their position through greed by seizing meat from sacrifices before it was properly offered.

Not only that, verse 22 tells how they fornicated with the women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle time and again, showing grave disregard for God.

Eli was regarded as a just man and he was recorded to have cautioned them about their evil behaviors, but they didn't listen to him.

22 - Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

23 - So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.

24 - No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress.

25 - If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.

He cautioned them but they refused to heed his warning.

So if this was the case, why was Eli blamed and pronounced guilty over his sons?

27 - Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: "Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28 - Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

29 - Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'

30 - Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: "I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: "Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

31 - Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.

Hophni and Phineas committed all these atrocious acts easily because they were in power. Eli wasn't just the high priest; he was the judge in Israel at the time. He had the power to oust them from priesthood to put an end to the disdain, but for selfish reasons, he refused. He chose the gains and aggrandizement of his family over the honor of God.

1 Samuel 3:11–14(NKJV)

11 - Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 - In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 - For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.

14 - And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."

So was it Eli’s fault that his sons turned their backs on God? Not necessarily.

But was it his fault that they still had the power to commit those abhorrent atrocities? Yes. Cuz he had the power to depose them but he chose not to.

Victor Ibosiola © 2025