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1 Samuel 3 · a question people ask

Why would sacrifice never remove the iniquity of Eli's house?

In the text

The LORD says, "I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever" (3:14). The words are about the house of Eli, and chapter 2 tells what the sons' sin involved:"The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; for the men despised the LORD’s offering" (2:17), and the man of God asked Eli, "Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering" (2:29). In Hebrew, sacrifice and offering in 3:14 are the same two words as in 2:29. The chapter doesn't explain further.

The verses

“Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.””
1 Samuel 3:14 · World English Bible
“The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; for the men despised the LORD’s offering.”
1 Samuel 2:17 · World English Bible
“Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?’”
1 Samuel 2:29 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Samuel 3

1 Samuel 3: Your servant hears

Eli told Samuel to say, "Speak, LORD; for your servant hears" (3:9), but Samuel answered, "Speak; for your servant hears" (3:10). And the chapter that opens with "The LORD’s word was rare in those days" (3:1) closes with the LORD revealing himself to Samuel "by the LORD’s word" (3:21).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions