1 Samuel 2:14

KJV

And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he struck {H5221} it into the pan {H3595}, or kettle {H1731}, or caldron {H7037}, or pot {H6517}; all that the fleshhook {H4207} brought up {H5927} the priest {H3548} took {H3947} for himself. So they did {H6213} in Shiloh {H7887} unto all the Israelites {H3478} that came {H935} thither.

Complete Jewish Bible

He would stick it in the pan, kettle, caldron or pot; and the cohen would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they dealt with all the people of Isra'el who came there to Shiloh.

Berean Standard Bible

and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.

American Standard Version

and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 2:14 vividly portrays the egregious corruption of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who, as priests at Shiloh, flagrantly violated the Mosaic Law concerning priestly portions. Instead of reverently awaiting the burning of the fat, which was designated for the Lord, they indiscriminately plunged a three-pronged fleshhook into the boiling sacrificial pots, seizing the choicest raw meat for themselves. This systematic and public abuse of their sacred office not only demonstrated profound contempt for God's holy ordinances and the sacrificial system but also set a scandalous example for all Israelites who came to worship, revealing a deep moral decay within the religious leadership of the era.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a pivotal narrative segment that contrasts the moral depravity of Eli's priestly household with the burgeoning spiritual integrity of young Samuel. The preceding verse, [1 Samuel 2:13](/1-samuel/2-13 "1 Samuel 2:13 - Priestly Abuses"), sets the stage by detailing their general practice of demanding the priest's portion *before* the fat was offered to the Lord. Verse 14 then provides the specific, audacious method of their transgression: the indiscriminate use of a fleshhook to extract whatever meat they desired from the cooking pots, regardless of the type of offering or the prescribed portion. This direct violation of the detailed regulations found in [Leviticus 7:31-34](/leviticus/7-31-34 "Leviticus 7:31-34 - Priestly Portions") and [Deuteronomy 18:3](/deuteronomy/18-3 "Deuteronomy 18:3 - Priestly Dues") for priestly dues underscores their profound disrespect for divine law. The narrative immediately follows with God's severe judgment pronounced against Eli's house for their contempt of His offerings and sanctuary, culminating in the prophecy of their demise and the eventual capture of the Ark of the Covenant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in 1 Samuel 2:14 unfold at Shiloh, which served as the central sanctuary for Israel during the period of the Judges. It was the designated location for the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, making it the primary site for national worship, sacrifices, and festivals, attracting Israelites from across the land. The sacrificial system was the divinely ordained means for atonement, communion, and expressing devotion to God, with meticulous laws governing every aspect, including the priests' rightful portions. According to Mosaic Law, priests were entitled to specific parts of the sacrifices, such as the breast and the right thigh of the peace offering, but only *after* the fat, which was considered the Lord's exclusive portion, had been burned on the altar. The actions of Hophni and Phinehas were not merely a breach of ritual protocol but a direct act of sacrilege, a public profanation of God's holy worship, and a blatant theft from the offerings consecrated to the Lord. Their conduct severely undermined the very institution of the priesthood and eroded the people's faith in the sacrificial system, leading to widespread contempt for the Lord's offerings among the people, as explicitly stated in [1 Samuel 2:17](/1-samuel/2-17 "1 Samuel 2:17 - Contempt for the Lord's Offerings").
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully illuminates several critical themes. Foremost is the **Corruption of Religious Leadership**, demonstrating how those entrusted with sacred duties can profoundly abuse their power for personal gain and self-gratification, leading to a breakdown of divine order and public scandal. This directly connects to the theme of **Despising the Lord's Offerings**, as the priests' actions revealed a blatant contempt not only for the specific laws of sacrifice but, more gravely, for God Himself, whose honor was diminished by their irreverence and greed. Their behavior epitomizes the **Abuse of Power for Personal Gain**, highlighting the inherent dangers when authority figures prioritize their own appetites and desires over their divine responsibilities and the spiritual well-being of the community they are meant to serve. Ultimately, this episode serves as a stark **Foreshadowing of God's Judgment on Disobedience**, as the priests' persistent wickedness inevitably provokes divine wrath upon Eli's entire household, leading to their demise and the capture of the Ark, as prophesied in [1 Samuel 2:34](/1-samuel/2-34 "1 Samuel 2:34 - Prophecy Against Eli's House") and dramatically fulfilled in [1 Samuel 4:11](/1-samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - Death of Eli's Sons and Capture of the Ark").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Struck (Hebrew, _nâkâh'_):** This primitive root verb signifies "to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)." In this context, it conveys the forceful, unceremonious, and indiscriminate manner in which the priests' servant plunged the fleshhook into the boiling pot. It implies a lack of reverence and a brazen disregard for the sacred process, contrasting sharply with the careful, ritualistic handling of sacrifices prescribed by the Law.
* **Fleshhook (Hebrew, _mazlêg'_):** Derived from an unused root meaning "to draw up," this refers to a specific three-pronged fork. Its mention here is crucial as it highlights the systematic and deliberate nature of the priests' transgression. They were not merely taking a piece of meat; they were using a specialized implement to indiscriminately extract whatever they desired, emphasizing their audacity and the public display of their contempt for the sacrificial regulations. The "three-pronged" aspect suggests a thorough, almost predatory, efficiency in their illicit taking.
* **Pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot (Hebrew, _kîyôwr', dûwd', qallachath', pârûwr'_):** This exhaustive list of cooking vessels—`kîyôwr` (pan/chafing-dish), `dûwd` (kettle/pot), `qallachath` (caldron/kettle), and `pârûwr` (pot/skillet)—underscores the priests' comprehensive and indiscriminate greed. It implies that they would take from any vessel, regardless of the type of sacrifice being prepared or the stage of the cooking process. This detail highlights their utter disregard for the specific regulations pertaining to different offerings and their portions, demonstrating that their aim was simply to acquire the best meat for themselves by any means, from any source, within the sanctuary.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot;":** This initial clause vividly describes the audacious and indiscriminate method employed by the priests' servant, acting directly on behalf of Eli's sons. The verb "struck" or "plunged" conveys a forceful, irreverent action, indicating a lack of respect for the sacred offerings. The detailed enumeration of various cooking vessels emphasizes that the priests were not particular about the type of offering or the specific vessel; their singular goal was to extract meat from wherever it was being prepared. This highlights their comprehensive disregard for the sanctity of the sacrificial process and the specific regulations for different offerings.
* **"all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself.":** This crucial clause exposes the self-serving and greedy motivation behind their actions. The "fleshhook," a three-pronged fork, was used to scoop out whatever meat it could retrieve from the boiling pot, without discrimination. The phrase "the priest took for himself" underscores that this was an act of personal appropriation and blatant theft, directly violating the divine command that the fat be offered to the Lord first, and that the priests receive only a specific, designated cooked portion. Their actions were a direct act of robbery from God's portion and from the worshippers.
* **"So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.":** This concluding clause emphasizes the systemic, public, and widespread nature of the priests' corruption. Their illicit practice was not a hidden transgression but a common, observable occurrence at Shiloh, the central sanctuary. This meant that every Israelite who came to offer sacrifices witnessed this blatant disrespect for God's law and the profanation of worship. This public scandal not only demonstrated the priests' profound contempt for God but also, tragically, caused the people to despise the Lord's offerings, as explicitly stated in [1 Samuel 2:17](/1-samuel/2-17 "1 Samuel 2:17 - Contempt for the Lord's Offerings").

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey the gravity and systemic nature of the priests' sin. The **Repetition** in the exhaustive list of cooking vessels ("pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot") serves to emphasize the indiscriminate and pervasive nature of their greed, highlighting that no part of the sacrificial process was safe from their avarice. There is a stark **Contrast** between the meticulous, reverent laws for sacrifice detailed in the Pentateuch and the priests' brazen, irreverent actions, underscoring their profound rebellion against divine order and holiness. The use of the "fleshhook" serves as potent **Symbolism**, representing not just a tool, but the very embodiment of their grasping, self-serving nature and their abuse of sacred authority. Furthermore, the description of their public and systematic corruption at Shiloh functions as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the inevitable divine judgment that will fall upon Eli's house and the priesthood, leading to the collapse of their spiritual authority and the capture of the Ark.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound corruption of Eli's sons, as depicted in 1 Samuel 2:14, serves as a stark theological warning about the dangers of spiritual leadership devoid of integrity and genuine reverence for God. Their actions were not merely a breach of ritual law but a direct affront to God's holiness and a scandalous public display of contempt for His name and His worship. By seizing the best portions for themselves before the fat was offered to the Lord, they effectively robbed God and undermined the very purpose of the sacrificial system, which was divinely instituted to facilitate communion with a holy God through atonement. This passage underscores the principle that those in positions of spiritual authority are held to a higher standard, and their actions profoundly impact the faith and reverence of the congregation. Their sin was not just personal greed but a public desecration that led others to despise the Lord's offerings, demonstrating the far-reaching and devastating consequences of unholy leadership.

* [Malachi 1:6-8](/malachi/1-6-8 "Malachi 1:6-8 - Priests Despise the Lord's Table")
* [Matthew 23:27-28](/matthew/23-27-28 "Matthew 23:27-28 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees: Hypocrisy")
* [Romans 2:24](/romans/2-24 "Romans 2:24 - God's Name Blasphemed Among the Gentiles")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Eli's sons serves as a timeless and sobering mirror for all who claim to serve God, particularly those in positions of leadership. It calls for a rigorous examination of motives: are we serving God out of genuine reverence and selflessness, or are we subtly (or overtly) using our spiritual roles for personal gain, comfort, or recognition? This passage reminds us that true worship demands integrity and a profound respect for God's holiness, not manipulation or exploitation of sacred things. For congregants, it highlights the importance of discernment regarding spiritual leadership and the need to uphold God's standards in our own lives, ensuring that our actions, especially in matters of faith and worship, truly honor Him. We are called to offer our "best" to the Lord, not to diminish His glory by prioritizing our own desires over His commands. This passage compels us to consider how our conduct, especially in sacred spaces or roles, impacts others' perception of God and His holiness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might spiritual leaders today be tempted to "take for themselves" from God's portion, whether materially, in terms of recognition, or through the abuse of power?**
* **How can individual believers ensure their own worship and service are characterized by genuine reverence for God, rather than a casual, self-serving, or performative approach?**
* **What are the potential consequences when the integrity of spiritual leadership is compromised, both for the leaders themselves and for the wider community of faith and its witness to the world?**

### FAQ
**What was the proper priestly portion according to the Law?**

Answer: According to the Mosaic Law, specifically detailed in [Leviticus 7:31-34](/leviticus/7-31-34 "Leviticus 7:31-34 - Priestly Portions") and [Deuteronomy 18:3](/deuteronomy/18-3 "Deuteronomy 18:3 - Priestly Dues"), the priests were entitled to specific portions of the sacrifices. For peace offerings, after the fat (which was explicitly designated as the Lord's portion) had been burned on the altar, the priest who offered the sacrifice would receive the breast and the right thigh. These portions were cooked and were given to the priest as sustenance for his service. Eli's sons, however, were taking raw meat, and the choicest parts, *before* the fat was offered to God, directly violating these divine regulations and demonstrating a profound disrespect for the Lord's prescribed order.

**Why was this act so serious in God's eyes?**

Answer: This act was profoundly serious for multiple reasons. First, it was a direct act of **theft from God**, as the fat was explicitly designated as the Lord's portion, symbolizing His preeminence and requiring the best of the offering. Second, it constituted a **profanation of the sacred sacrificial system**, which was the divinely ordained means for atonement and communion with God. By treating the sacrifices with such contempt, Eli's sons were effectively despising God Himself ([1 Samuel 2:17](/1-samuel/2-17 "1 Samuel 2:17 - Contempt for the Lord's Offerings")). Third, their actions were **public and scandalous**, taking place at Shiloh, the central place of worship, in full view of all the Israelites. This public display of irreverence led the people to despise the Lord's offerings, undermining their faith and reverence. Finally, it represented a profound **abuse of their priestly authority**, using their sacred office for personal, greedy gain rather than for faithful service to God and His people, thus bringing dishonor to God's name.

**What happened to Eli's sons as a result of their corruption?**

Answer: The systemic corruption of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, ultimately led to severe divine judgment upon their entire household. A man of God prophesied that Eli's house would be cut off, and both his sons would die on the same day as a sign ([1 Samuel 2:31-34](/1-samuel/2-31-34 "1 Samuel 2:31-34 - Prophecy Against Eli's House")). This dire prophecy was dramatically fulfilled in [1 Samuel 4](/1-samuel/4 "1 Samuel 4 - The Ark Captured and Eli's Death"). During a battle with the Philistines, Hophni and Phinehas accompanied the Ark of the Covenant to the battlefield, mistakenly believing its presence would guarantee victory. However, the Israelites were decisively defeated, the Ark was captured, and both Hophni and Phinehas were killed on the same day ([1 Samuel 4:11](/1-samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - Death of Eli's Sons and Capture of the Ark")). Upon hearing this devastating news, along with the capture of the Ark, Eli himself, being old and heavy, fell backward from his seat and died, breaking his neck.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The egregious failure of Eli's sons, who profaned the sacred sacrifices and brazenly abused their priestly office for personal gain, starkly highlights the desperate need for a perfect High Priest. The Levitical priesthood, though divinely instituted, was inherently flawed because it was comprised of sinful men who could not perfectly mediate between a holy God and fallen humanity. Their actions in [1 Samuel 2:14](/1-samuel/2-14 "1 Samuel 2:14 - The Priests' Corrupt Practice") underscore the temporary and insufficient nature of the Old Covenant system, which relied on repeated animal sacrifices and fallible priests. In profound contrast, Jesus Christ emerges as the **Great High Priest** who perfectly fulfills and transcends the Levitical priesthood. Unlike Hophni and Phinehas, Jesus did not "take for himself" but rather gave Himself as the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His sacrifice was not a portion of an animal but His own perfect life, offered once for all on the cross, making any further sacrifices unnecessary ([Hebrews 9:26-28](/hebrews/9-26-28 "Hebrews 9:26-28 - Christ's Sacrifice Once for All")). He entered the true heavenly sanctuary, not a man-made tabernacle, and offered His own blood, securing eternal redemption for all who believe ([Hebrews 9:11-12](/hebrews/9-11-12 "Hebrews 9:11-12 - Christ, the High Priest of the New Covenant")). Furthermore, where Eli's sons brought contempt upon God's offerings, Jesus perfectly honored God through His perfect obedience, even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philipians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Through His perfect priesthood and once-for-all sacrifice, believers are now granted direct access to God's presence, no longer dependent on flawed human mediators, but able to [draw near with confidence to the throne of grace](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence") to receive mercy and find grace in time of need.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 2:29

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Leviticus 7:34

For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.

Exodus 29:27

And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, [even] of [that] which [is] for Aaron, and of [that] which is for his sons:

Exodus 29:28

And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel: for it [is] an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, [even] their heave offering unto the LORD.

Isaiah 56:11

Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

2 Peter 2:13

And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;