1 Samuel 2:14

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Context

First Samuel 2:14 describes a specific corrupt practice of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who served as priests at Shiloh where the tabernacle was located. The verses immediately preceding this (specifically 1 Samuel 2:12-13) establish their character: "the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD." Instead of adhering to the divine regulations for priestly portions, which mandated that the fat be burned to the Lord first and then the priest would receive the breast and shoulder (Leviticus 7:31-34), these priests brazenly took the best meat for themselves *before* it was offered to God. This verse details the method: using a three-pronged fleshhook to extract whatever they desired from the boiling pot, asserting their corrupt claim over God's portion.

Key Themes

  • Corruption of Religious Leadership: The primary theme is the profound abuse of sacred office by Eli's sons. Their actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for their priestly duties and the sanctity of God's worship.
  • Despising the Lord's Offerings: By seizing meat before it was offered to God, Hophni and Phinehas showed contempt not just for the law, but for God Himself. This act was a defilement of the sacrificial system and an insult to the divine.
  • Abuse of Power for Personal Gain: The priests leveraged their position to satisfy their own appetites, highlighting the dangers when those in authority prioritize selfish desires over their responsibilities and divine commands.
  • God's Judgment on Disobedience: Though not explicit in this verse, this corruption ultimately led to severe divine judgment upon Eli's house and the priests themselves, underscoring God's intolerance for such wickedness (see 1 Samuel 2:34 and 1 Samuel 4:11).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's descriptive list of cooking vessels—"pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot"—emphasizes that the priests were indiscriminately taking meat from any stage of the boiling process, asserting their claim over all of it. The "fleshhook" (Hebrew: mazleg, מזלג) was a specific three-pronged fork, designed to retrieve portions. Its use here highlights the audacious and systematic nature of their theft from the sacrifices, making their actions highly visible and scandalous to the "Israelites that came thither."

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning for all who hold positions of spiritual leadership. It underscores the vital importance of integrity, reverence for God's commands, and selfless service. For believers, it highlights the need for discernment in leadership and the understanding that God holds those in authority to a higher standard. It reminds us that our actions, especially in matters of faith and worship, reflect our true regard for God. We are called to honor God with our best, not to manipulate sacred things for personal benefit, recognizing that God is not mocked.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 2:29 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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;