Ques. Can you explain 1 Sam. 2:12-17? I don't understand the custom in verse 13. I don't know what a flesh hook is. I don't understand what they did wrong which grieved the Lord in this passage in verse 17.
Ans. The office of the high priest in Israel was to bear the government and the judgment of all the tribes of Israel. He was to instruct them according to the Urim and Thummim—lights and perfections. (Ex. 28:30; Deut. 33:8.) He was to draw near to the Lord for them in all their ignorance and weakness. The home of Eli, the high priest of the Lord of hosts, should have been the fairest spot in the whole earth a home that in a special way witnessed to Jehovah's name and glory. Instead of this it had become a place notable in Israel for foul sins. Eli is charged by the man of God (v. 29) with the guilt of his sons. "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?" v. 29. (Eli himself was heavy, 1 Sam. 4:18.) "Yourselves" the Lord said. "The priest's custom" (v. 13), doubtless, was this unholy gain the Lord strongly condemns in verse 17. "The sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.”
By the ordinance of the Lord, the peace offering had a special and precious significance clearly set forth (Lev. 3). In it the Lord brought the worshipers into communion with Himself. A selected portion was called "the food of the offering," and was to be consumed on the burnt offering and with the meat offering, before they or the priests partook of what was reserved for them. Eli's sons openly set aside the revealed will of God and put their own customs in its place. (1 Sam. 2:13-17.) Even the people knew that the fat must be burnt and was for God. (v. 16.) Eli's sons cared nothing for God's word.
The flesh hook is here described as having three teeth. Its use, perhaps, was like a barbed fork which they jabbed into the meat and pulled out the choicest part which Eli's sons then greedily ate. Their own lusts were, in effect, their god. Besides their very great sins in verses 13-17, more are exposed in verses 22-25.
Surely there is a practical and important lesson for us Christians to learn from this. We know that today every believer is a priest. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood." 1 Peter 2:5. In Heb. 10:22, we are invited to draw near, but it must be according to God. There are four requisites: a true heart, full assurance of faith, hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. We have no right to change, add to, or diminish from what God has prescribed. Along with the true heart of faith, the blood must be applied and there must be the washing of the water by the Word. Let us be careful not to depart from the teaching of the Holy Scriptures in seeking to draw near to God. To despise God's word as Eli's sons did, is dangerous. If we come according to God's word, we enjoy the most happy and sweet fellowship and worship and can offer the sacrifice of praise to God. (Heb. 13:15.) Ed.