A Prophecy against the House of Eli
The man of God begins by recalling the LORD's past choice of Eli's house for priestly service and provision. That memory makes the charge sharper: Eli has honored his sons above the LORD by sharing in their misuse of the offerings.
T27hen a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house? 28And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites. 29Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’
The LORD answers that former promises no longer stand in the same way, because He honors those who honor Him. Eli's strength will be cut off, his house will know distress and early death, and the deaths of Hophni and Phinehas on one day will confirm the word.
30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 31Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age. 32You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. 33And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men. 34And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.
The prophecy ends by promising a faithful priest who acts in step with the LORD's heart and walks before His anointed. What remains of Eli's house will be reduced to begging for bread and priestly work.
35Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time. 36And everyone left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a morsel of bread, pleading, “Please appoint me to some priestly office so that I can eat a piece of bread.”’”