1 Samuel 3:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11-18

Here is, I. The message which, after all this introduction, God delivered to Samuel concerning Eli's house. God did not come to him now to tell him how great a man he should be in his day, what a figure he should make, and what a blessing he should be in Israel. Young people have commonly a great curiosity to be told their fortune, but God came to Samuel, not to gratify his curiosity, but to employ him in his service and send him on an errand to another person, which was much better; and yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:14

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli ,.... Either had done this before, which was signified to him by the man of God, or did swear now for the confirmation of his threatenings, and to assure the certain performance of them: that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever : not even typically, which was all that legal sacrifice could do; and not so that the priesthood should ever return to the family again, as the office of high... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 3:14

Shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering - That is, God was determined that they should be removed by a violent death. They had committed the sin unto death; and no offering or sacrifice could prevent this. What is spoken here relates to their temporal death only. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-18

The old priest and the child prophet. Every imagination must be struck by the contrast between the old man and the child. The more so, that the natural order of things is reversed. Instead of admonition to the child coming through the lips of age, admonition to the aged came through the lips of childhood. 1. THE CHARACTER OF ELI ILLUSTRATED . 1 . His good points. The Lord had ceased to speak to or by Eli; but when the old priest perceived that the Lord had spoken to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11-14

Privileges and cares. The one great fact here set forth is that God reveals to Samuel— 1 . The judgment impending over the house of Eli, and its reasons. 2 . That Eli had been already informed of its nature. 3 . That the judgment when it comes will cause the most intense consternation in Israel. I. An ENTRANCE ON SUPERIOR PRIVILEGES . Hitherto Samuel had waited on man. Now he is honoured to hear the voice of God, and wait directly on the Divine presence. His... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:14

Sacrifice nor offering. The first of these is zebach, the sacrifice of an animal by the shedding of its blood; the second is the minchah, or unbloody sacrifice. The guilt of Eli's sons could be purged , i.e. expiated, by none of the appointed offerings for sin, because they had hardened themselves in their wrong doing even after the solemn warning in 1 Samuel 2:27-36 . Hence the marked repetition of the denunciation of finality in their doom. Again it is said that it is forever .... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 3:14

See the marginal references. The sin of the sons of Eli could not be purged by the appointed sacrifices of the Law. In blessed contrast with this declaration is the assurance of the New Testament 1 John 1:7; Acts 13:39. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 3:14

1 Samuel 3:14. I have sworn Or, I do swear; the past tense being commonly put for the present in the Hebrew tongue. Unto the house of Eli Or, concerning it. Shall not be purged That is, the punishment threatened against Eli and his family shall not be prevented by all their sacrifices, but shall infallibly be executed. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-18

Judgment on the family of Eli (2:12-3:18)Eli the priest had become the judge, or chief administrator, in Israel. He sat at the door of the house of God where people could freely meet him to seek his advice or ask for directions in disputes (see 1:9; 4:18). His sons, it seems, carried out the routine work in connection with the sacrifices and ceremonies.According to the Levitical law, the portion of the sacrifice that was for God had to be burnt on the altar first, after which the priest and the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 3:1-18

1. Samuel’s call 3:1-18The Hebrew word used to describe Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1 (naar) elsewhere refers to a young teenager (cf. 1 Samuel 17:33). Consequently we should probably think of Samuel as a boy in his early teens as we read this section. Josephus wrote that Samuel was 12 years old. [Note: Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 5:10:4.] At this time in Israel’s history (i.e., the late Judges Period), special revelations from God were rare. These normally came to prophets in visions... read more

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