Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 3:13

13 For I have told him, that I will judge his house for ever , for the iniquity which [illegible: 1+ letters]e knoweth : because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not .

i. e. Condemn, and Punish or Destroy, as the word Iudge is oft used, as Gen. 15. 14. Ioh. 3. 18. and 16. 11.

His Children, and Posterity, as is manifest by the Story; as the word House is frequently taken, as 2 Sam. 7. 11. 1 King. 21. 29. So the House of Iudah, of Aaron, of David, are oft taken for their Posterity. And to Build an House in Scripture use, is to encrease their Posterity, as Exod. 1. 21. Deut. 25. 9. Ruth 4. 11. Compare Gen. 16. 2. and 30. 3.

Till they be utterly rooted out: or, for a long time, as that Phrase is oft used.

Either by the information of the Prophet, chap. 2. v. 27, &c. or by his own guilty and self-accusing Conscience. But these, and the foregoing and following words, may well be, and are rendred thus, for this iniquity, because he knew (both by common Fame, and by his own observation) that his Sons, &c. He cannot pretend ignorance, or want of proof of their wickedness, which aggravates his Sin.

Not only hateful to God, but contemptible to all the People, whereby they also brought their Sacred Office, and Gods Holy Ordinances into contempt. Heb. Cursed themselves, or made themselves Execrab[illegible: 1+ letters]e or Accursed, both to God and men: by their Lewd and Cursed Practices, they put themselves under the Curse of God, by such a gross Violation of Gods Commands; Compare Ios. 6. 18. and 7. 12, 13. This expression may be used by way of reflection upon their Father, because be did not denounce the Curse of God against them, nor put them out of the Priesthood, as Accursed Persons, although they were so Vile, that they had prevented their Fathers censure, and Meritoriously cast themselves out, and cut themselves off from the Priesthood and Congregation of the Lord, which their Father should have done Judicially.

He contented himself with a cold and gentle reproof, and did not severely rebuke, and punish, and effectually restrain them from their abominable Courses, nor use that Authority which God had given him, as a Father, as an High-Priest, and as a Judge, or Chief Magistrate, against them, as by the Law of God he was obliged to do.

Marginal references: Or, and I will tell him, &c.; Chap. 2. 29, 30, 31, &c.; Or, accursed.; Heb. frowned not upon them▪