Warning to Eli from the Man of God
A "man of God" delivered a warning to Eli, the high priest, concerning the impending judgment on his household [7, 9]. This prophetic message is recorded in 1 Samuel 2:27-36. The identity of this specific "man of God" is not explicitly stated in the biblical text, but he served as God's messenger to Eli [9].
The warning came because Eli had failed to restrain his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were abusing their priestly office and committing wickedness [9]. Eli's reproof of his sons was too gentle, and his indulgence of their actions contributed to their sin [9]. The prophet declared that because Eli honored his sons more than God, his family would suffer severe consequences. The prophecy included that there would not be an old man in Eli's house, signifying a great calamity and a loss of respectability for his family [7]. This prediction was later confirmed by the afflictions, degradation, poverty, and untimely deaths that befell Eli's descendants [7].
The concept of a "man of God" appears elsewhere in the Old Testament, often referring to prophets like Elijah or Elisha [4, 5, 6]. For instance, Elisha, also called a "man of God," frequently sent warnings to the king of Israel about the movements of the Aramean army, advising him to avoid certain places where the enemy lay in wait [1, 2, 3, 8, 10]. These warnings allowed the king to take precautions and guard against attacks [3]. In another instance, a "man of God" delivered a message to King Ahaziah, who had inquired of the god of Ekron instead of the Lord [11].
The message to Eli underscored the principle that those who are close to God, yet fail in their duty, will face divine discipline [9]. Eli's failure to adequately address his sons' transgressions led to a severe judgment on his priestly line [7, 9].
Sources
- 2 Kings “2 Kings 6:9 (NASB) — The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there."”
- II Kings “II Kings 6:9 (ASV) — And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are coming down.”
- II Kings “II Kings 6:10 (BSB) — So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elijah — Whose God is Jehovah. (1.) "The Tishbite," the "Elias" of the New Testament, is suddenly introduced to our notice in 1 Kings 17:1 as delivering a message from the Lord to Ahab. There is mention made of a town called Thisbe, south of Kadesh, but it is impossible to say whether this was the place referred to in the name given to the prophet. Having delivered his message to Ahab, he retired at the command of God to a hiding-place by the brook Cherith, beyond Jordan, where he was fed by ravens. When the brook dried up God sent him to the widow of Zarephath, a ci”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elisha — God his salvation, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, who became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:16-19). His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (1 Kings 19:16). This was the only one of the three commands then given to Elijah which he accomplished. On his way from Sinai to Damascus he found Elisha at his native place engaged in the labours of the field, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. He went over to him, threw over his shoulders his rough mantle, and at once adopted him as a son, and investe”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elisha — (God his salvation), son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah; the attendant and disciple of Elijan, and subsequently his successor as prophet of the kingdom of Israel. The earliest mention of his name is in the command to Elijah in the cave at Horeb. (1 Kings 19:16,17) (B.C. about 900.) Elijah sets forth to obey the command, and comes upon his successor engaged in ploughing. He crosses to him and throws over his shoulders the rough mantle--a token at once of investiture with the prophet's office and of adoption as a son. Elisha delayed merely to give the farewell kiss”
- 1 Samuel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Samuel 2:27: A PROPHECY AGAINST ELI'S HOUSE. (Sa1 2:27-35) there came a man of God unto Eli, and said . . . that there shall not be an old man in thine house--So much importance has always, in the East, been attached to old age, that it would be felt to be a great calamity, and sensibly to lower the respectability of any family which could boast of few or no old men. The prediction of this prophet was fully confirmed by the afflictions, degradation, poverty, and many untimely deaths with which the house of Eli was visited after its announcement (see Sa1 4:11; Sa”
- 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 6:8: And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel,.... That is, Elisha sent to him: saying: beware that thou pass not such a place: not go to it, but avoid it, and pass another way: for thither the Syrians are come down: are hidden, as the Targum; lie covered at the bottom of the hill, so as not to be seen.”
- 1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 2:27: Eli reproved his sons too gently, and did not threaten them as he should, and therefore God sent a prophet to him to reprove him sharply, and to threaten him, because, by his indulgence of them, he had strengthened their hands in their wickedness. If good men be wanting in their duty, and by their carelessness and remissness contribute any thing to the sin of sinners, they must expect both to hear of it and to smart for it. Eli's family was now nearer to God than all the families of the earth, and therefore he will punish them, Amo 3:2. The message is sent to El”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on 2 Kings 6:10: And warned him. The man of God had warned him passing there.”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 1:9: Here, I. The king issues out a warrant for the apprehending of Elijah. If the God of Ekron had told him he should die, it is probable he would have taken it quietly; but now that a prophet of the Lord tells him so, reproving him for his sin and reminding him of the God of Israel, he cannot bear it. So far is he from making any good improvement of the warning given him that he is enraged against the prophet; neither his sickness, nor the thoughts of death, made any good impressions upon him, nor possessed him with any fear of God. No external alarms will startle an”