Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 2:30

30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed , that thy house, and the house of thy father should walk before me . for ever : but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me : for them that honour me , I will honour ; and they that despised me , shall be lightly esteemed .

Qu. Where, or when did God say this? Answ. Either, 1. When he made that promise for the Perpetuation of the Priesthood in Aarons Family, Exod. 28. 43. and 29. 9. Object. If Eli and all his Family had been cut off, yet that Promise had been made good in Eleazars Family: how then was that Promise recalled by this Sentence against Eli? Answ. It was recalled and made void, though not absolutely and universally to all Aarons Family; yet respectively to Eli and his Family, which were wholly excluded from the benefit of it, wherein otherwise they should have shared. Even as Gods keeping of the Israelites out of Canaan, and in the Wilderness for Forty years, and destroying them there, is called his breach of promise, Numb. 14. 34. although the Promise of Canaan was not simply made void to all the Israelites, but onely to that evil Generation of them: Or, as Gods Covenant with David, and with his Seed, of which God saith, that it should stand fast, Psal. 89. 28. and that he would not break nor alter it, v. 34. yet is said to be made void, v. 39. to wit, in regard of some particular branches, or members of that Family. Or, 2. To Eli himself, or to his Father, when the Priesthood was translated from Eleazars to Ithamars Family for some cause not mentioned in Scripture, but most probably for some great miscarriage of some of them. If it be said, That there is no such Promise Recorded in Scripture; it may be so replyed, That there are many sayings and doings noted in Holy Scripture, which were not spoken of in their proper times and places, as Gen. 24. 51. and 42. 21. Hos. 12. 4. Luk. 11. 49. Act. 20. 25. So the sence of the place may be this, That promise and priviledge of the perpetuation of the Priesthod in Phinchas and his Family, made to them Numb. 25. 12. namely upon condition of his and their faithfulness in their Office, which is plainly understood, I now take away from that Family for their wickedness, and I transfer it to thee and thine, and will fix it there upon the same condition.

i. e. Minister unto me as High-Priest. Walking is oft put for Discharging ones Office; before me, may signifie that he was the High-Priest, whose sole Prerogative it was to Minister before God, or before the Ark, in the Most Holy Place.

As long as the Mosaical Law and Worship lasted, as that Phrase is oft used.

To wit, to fulfil my promise, which I repent of, and hereby retract.

That Worship and serve me with Reverence and Godly Fear, and according to my Will, which I esteem as an Honour done to me.

I will advance them to Honour, and maintain them in it.

Not formally and directly; for so Eli's Sons did not despise God; but indirectly and by consequence, by presumptuous disobedience of my Commands; by defiling and disgracing my Worship and Ordinances, either by transgressing the Rules I have given them therein, or by their ungodly and shamefull Conversation; and by making my service contemptible and abominable to others through their Scandals; all which are manifest Arguments of contempt of God, and are so called, as Numb. 11. 20. 1 Sam. 12. 9, 10. Mal. 1. 8. and all which were eminently found in Eli's sons.

Both by God and Men.

Marginal references: Mal. 2 9