A Prophecy against the House of Eli

Then 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? 28 And 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 vvv of the Israelites.

29 

Why then do you kick at[fn] 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.’

30 

Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares:

‘I did indeed say that your house

and the house of your father

would walk before Me vvv forever.

But now the LORD declares:

Far be it from Me!

For I will honor those who honor Me,

but those who despise Me will be disdained.

31 

Behold, 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. 32 You will see distress [in My] dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house vvv will ever again reach old age. 33 And 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.[fn] All your descendants[fn] will die [by the sword] of men.[fn]

34 

And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.

35 

Then 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

36 

And 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.” ’ ” 3