The Consequences of One Man’s Failure

I. THE LIFE OF ELI

A. His Service as a Priest

1. Acquired by genealogy (1 Samuel 2:27-30)
2. Attended in his prime (Numbers 8:25-26); Note: He would have continued to be identified as a priest, but his service would have been much different.

B. His Service as a Judge

1. He sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD (1 Samuel 1:9).
2. He sat upon a seat by the wayside by the side of the gate (1 Samuel 4:13, 18).
3. Though these things are not proof that Eli was a judge, the Bible testifies that Eli judged Israel forty years (1 Samuel 4:18).

C. His Family

1. We do not know anything about his wife.
2. We do know, however, that he had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas who were also “priests of the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:3).

II. THE FAILURES OF ELI

A. His Failure in Discernment (1 Samuel 1:1-18)

1. Hannah’s trials (1 Samuel 1:1-8)
2. Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:9-11)
3. Eli’s assumption (1 Samuel 1:12-14)
4. Eli’s wavering (1 Samuel 1:15-18)

B. His Failure in the Priesthood (1 Samuel 2:11-17)

1. The disservice of the priests (1 Samuel 2:11-16)
2. The abhorrence of the people (1 Samuel 2:17)

C. His Failure at Home (1 Samuel 2:22-25)

1. He heard about the wickedness of his sons (1 Samuel 2:22).
2. He refused to intervene (1 Samuel 2:23-25; 1 Samuel 3:13-14).

D. His Failure in Fellowship (1 Samuel 2:27-36; 1 Samuel 3:1-21)

1. His lack of concern (1 Samuel 2:27-29)
2. His preferences (1 Samuel 2:29)
3. His judgment (1 Samuel 2:30-34)
4. His replacement (1 Samuel 3:1-21)

III. THE END OF ELI

A. The Defeat of Israel (1 Samuel 4:1-11)

1. The loss in battle (1 Samuel 4:1-10)
2. The loss of the ark (1 Samuel 4:11)
3. The death of Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 4:11)

B. The Death of Eli (1 Samuel 4:12-18)

1. The trembling of his heart (1 Samuel 4:12-14)
2. The weakness of his condition (1 Samuel 4:15)
3. The dread of the news (1 Samuel 4:16-17)
4. The straw that broke the camel’s back (1 Samuel 4:18)

C. The Legacy of Eli (1 Samuel 4:19-22)