Theory question 102
Parental Responsibility(a) Recount the effects of the behaviour of Eli's children on Israel as a nation. (b) What two lessons can be learnt by parents from Eli's attitude?
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(a) Hophni and Phinehas took meat by force and treated the Lord's offering with contempt, so people despised the offering (1 Samuel 2:12-17).
They lay with the women serving at the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:22).
A man of God foretold the end of Eli's priestly house (1 Samuel 2:27-36).
The word of the Lord was rare in those days (1 Samuel 3:1).
Israel was defeated by the Philistines and lost 4,000 men; they brought the ark to battle (1 Samuel 4:1-4).
Israel was defeated again; 30,000 men died (1 Samuel 4:10).
The ark of God was captured (1 Samuel 4:11).
Hophni and Phinehas were killed; Eli fell and died (1 Samuel 4:11, 18).
Phinehas' wife died in childbirth; the child was named Ichabod — the glory departed (1 Samuel 4:19-22).
(b) Any two: parents must discipline their children; do not honour children above God; correct wrongdoing early; set a good example; parents' failures affect the whole community.
List the effects from 1 Samuel 2–4, then two lessons.