Eli’s Sons (Hophni & Phinehas)
Category: Failure of priestly holiness
Could endure: Serve faithfully as priests before the LORD.
“You and your sons are to serve as priests before me for all time.” (Exodus 29:9)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 18:5; Malachi 2:7.
Chose wrongly: Treated offerings with contempt and committed immorality.
“This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.” (1 Samuel 2:17)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 7:34; Jeremiah 23:11.
Endured (negatively): Judgment pronounced, both killed in one day.
“What happens to your two sons… they will both die on the same day.” (1 Samuel 2:34)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 4:11; Psalm 78:64.
Why (wrong motive): Lust, greed, irreverence.
“They had no regard for the LORD.” (1 Samuel 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 15:27; Hosea 4:7.
Result: Priestly line cut off, God raised faithful priesthood through Samuel.
“I will raise up for myself a faithful priest.” (1 Samuel 2:35)
Cross-Refs: 1 Kings 2:27; Hebrews 7:23–24.
Israel Demanding a King
Category: Failure of trust in God’s kingship
Could endure: Trust the LORD as their king.
“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 33:5; Judges 8:23.
Chose wrongly: Rejected God, demanded a human king.
“They have rejected me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 13:10–11; Psalm 118:8–9.
Endured (negatively): Oppression by kings, loss of freedom.
“He will take your sons… your daughters… your fields… your servants.” (1 Samuel 8:11–17)
Cross-Refs: 1 Kings 12:4; Jeremiah 34:17.
Why (wrong motive): Desire to be like other nations.
“Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” (1 Samuel 8:5)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 17:14; Ezekiel 20:32.
Result: God gave them Saul, but it led to trouble.
“When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. The LORD answered, ‘Listen to them and give them a king.’” (1 Samuel 8:21–22)
Cross-Refs: Acts 13:21; Hosea 13:11.
Saul (King of Israel)
Category: Failure of obedience & humility
Could endure: Obey God fully and rule with humility.
“Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel?” (1 Samuel 15:17)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 17:18–20; Micah 6:8.
Chose wrongly: Disobeyed God’s command, spared Amalekite king and plunder.
“Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?” (1 Samuel 15:19)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 13:13; Hosea 6:6.
Endured (negatively): Spirit of the LORD departed; tormented by evil spirit.
“Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 28:6; Acts 13:22.
Why (wrong motive): Fear of people, pride, self-justification.
“I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” (1 Samuel 15:24)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 1:10.
Result: Kingdom torn away; Saul died in disgrace.
“Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
Cross-Refs: 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; Hosea 13:11.