Eli was a priest and judge of Israel, but he failed to raise his sons properly.
1 Samuel 2:12
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
“Belial” means,
“…without profit, worthlessness, wickedness, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.”
Simply stated, Eli’s sons were ungodly wicked men.
1 Samuel 2:22
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Eli was “very old,” which means he should have stepped down long ago. Other Scriptures explain, he could no longer see, (1 Samuel 4:15). Eli was unfit to hold office, but he held on anyway. This allowed his sons to perform all sorts of evil without accountability.
Worse yet, Eli son’s were priests, and they had sex with the women who were waiting to call on God.
1 Samuel 2:23
And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
Eli finally confronts his wicked sons.
1 Samuel 2:24
Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’S people to transgress.
Eli did absolutely nothing to stop his sons from their sinful ways that were leading Israel astray.
God finally has enough, and says,
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1 Samuel 3:12-13
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
From God’s own mouth, the priest and judge of Israel allowed his children to run amok which perverted the people. God would now inflict his promise against Eli and Israel.
A messenger now comes to inform Eli of some bad news.
1 Samuel 4:17
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
Hophni and Phinehas were Eli’s wicked sons, who were also priests. This was an abomination, and you can now see why God promised to destroy Eli’s house. When you see wickedness today, never be surprised, it’s happened many times throughout history, and does to this very day.
1 Samuel 4:18
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
When Eli heard that the Ark of the Covenant was stolen, it must have instantly broken his heart. In that instant, it led to his death.
This story is a great example for us today. Men should never stay in power longer than their age allows. Moreover, a man must be able to rule over his own household before he can rule over the church, or hold a position of authority, (1 Timothy 3:5).
Israel’s failures are many, common, and they encompassed all portions of society, (Nehemiah 9:32, 34).