Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 2
The Bible has already told us how wicked Eli’s sons (Hophni and Phinehas, the priests) were. However, 1 Samuel 2:22 still gives us a shock.
There were certain women who worked at the entrance to God’s house. (God’s law did not allow women to go inside God’s house.) Someone had probably given these women to God, even as Samuel’s parents had given him to God. So they were holy women, who carried out sacred tasks.
The priests, Hophni and Phinehas, were having sex with those women.
That kind of behaviour was not unusual at the houses of false gods. For example, in the religion of Baal (a male god) and Asherah (a female god), sex was a normal part of the ceremonies (see Judges 6:25; Numbers 25:1-3). In some evil religions, priestesses (female priests) worked as prostitutes (that is, they were available to have sex with any man).
It was very terrible that the priests of the real God were imitating this wicked behaviour. God’s word, the Bible, warns clearly that his people must never carry out such wicked acts (Leviticus chapters 18 and 20). It is wrong to have sex, except between husband and wife.
God’s people should not do whatever they may desire to do. They must not allow their feelings to rule their lives. God made them holy, so now they belong to God. So, they should use their bodies in a manner that pleases God (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
Israel’s priests had a duty to teach the people how to serve God (Leviticus 10:11). However, the priests were not even obeying God themselves. Anyone who teaches other people must be especially careful to behave in a proper manner. God demands even higher standards from a leader of his people (James 3:1).
Next part: The chief priest who would not stop his sons’ wicked behaviour (1 Samuel 2:23-25)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.