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11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the child ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.

12 The Sons of Eli.[a][b]Now Eli’s sons were sons of Belial, they had no regard for the Lord. 13 This is how the priests would deal with the people when anyone came to offer a sacrifice: the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:12 The lengthy episode about the prophet explains why, in the time of Solomon, the high priesthood was transferred from Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, to Zadok (1 Ki 2:27-35). It also justifies the removal of various local sanctuaries from Levite control after the centralization of worship in Jerusalem (2 Ki 23:9) toward the end of the seventh century.
  2. 1 Samuel 2:12 Under the law, Eli’s sons, who were priests, had many advantages. They were, however, filled with greed and took more than their due, thereby undermining their position. Eli’s failure to take action caused hardship for others and in the end destroyed his and his sons’ relationship with God.

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(A) but the boy ministered(B) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard(C) for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice(D) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat(E) was being boiled

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