The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-08-22
ELI AND SAMUEL

The Hebrew people were delivered from slavery
in Egypt and after about three months in the wilder
ness they came to Mount Sinai and there they
organized as Hebrew nation. During the first days
of national unity the only authority the people
aside from that of Moses vested in priests This
continued in changing degree all through the first
years of the nations existence until the first king
was set upon a Hebrew throne. Some of these
priests merely oficiated in the religious ceremonies
while others attended to their duties and also judged
Israel. Of the latter character the positions in
the nation held by Eli and Samuel.
To understand the first part of this story as
Eli you must know that the priesthood was
hereditary. Once man placed in that posi-
ton the office was kept in his family, being filled by
the male descendants Removal from the priesthood
was brought about only by failure in the grave du-
ties and responsibilities attending the Office. In
such manner had Eli attained his priesthood. A
descendant from Ithamar. the youngest of Is
rael's first high priest Aaron he of a house
that had been Dlvinely promised the privilege OF
walking before God forever. Now for the sequel.
Eli had two sons Hophni and Phinehas, who
were priests under him. The history tells that
these two men were very wicked They desecrated
the peoples offerings the Lord to such extent
that it finally came TO be that men abhorred" this
sacred rite. In many ways and so openly did they
practice their wickedness that Eli heard all that
his sons did unto all Israel"
It-was Ellis duty father to see, SO far as lay
in his power, that his lived uprightly. 1t is
possible for father to fail in this respect matter
how earnestly he may try and the fault will not be
his. But Ellis position religious guide and chief
authority in the land made it his imperative duty to
see that none, not his family, msused so
high an Office as that held by his sons.
But he did not do this. He spoke to them con-
corning the sin they were doing sin so great that
it made The Lords people to transgress" But
they hearkened not unto the voice of their father.
They persisted in their evil ways and Eli permitted
them to fill their priestly positions until "a man of
God came to Eli" and told him that God had taken
the matter into His own hands. Eli, we'll as Ha-
phn and Phinehas, was to be punished because OF
this matter. He was to die untimely death and
the priesthood to pass from his house. His sons
were to die on the day and the time was to
come when his descendants should come to the priest
and beg for piece of silver and a morsel OF
bread" And it came to pass. The Hebrews
were defeated by the Philistines, Hophn and Phine
has were killed, the ark of the covenant taken
and the shock of this news killed Eli few years
later Abathar. a descendant of Phinehas, de-
posed from the priesthood
Now turn to Samuel. The lives of those two
were much the same up to certain point. Samuel
served priest. came to be prophet and judge
over Israel. He had two sons. Joel and Abiah. and
when he grew old he appointed them to be judges
over Israel They were the same manner of men
Ellis sons and proved themselves unworthy of their
high Offices and untitled for their heavy responsible
ities They took brides. perverted justice and
doubtedly snned over much for all the elders came
to Samuel at Ramah, his home, and asked. because
of the wickedness of his sons that king be chosen
and placed over them.
This displeased Samuel but he did not shirk the
responsibility it placed upon him. He consulted
God, followed his instructions, Amounted Saul King
and after time amounted David for the Office.
In such manner did he dispose Of his and their
wckedness. How very different the end of Samuel
from that of Eli. Samuel served the people all the
days of his life and at his death was mourned and
lamented by all Israel. His house
spected and honored In later years his grandson,
Heman. was appointed singer and musician at the
court of King David. What is to be lesson
from these two lives? This: that man was not Gre
ated to live by, or for. himself alone. 1t was not
meant that mankind should be nothing more than a
horde of separate bodies filing the world Oh, mol
That was not divine purpose Each soul has re-
sponsibility for every other soul that into it's
CIRCLE Man is his brothers keeper" Do not doubt
this Cain became a fugitive and vagabond -.
in the earth because he failed in his duty in this
respect Jesus said, with authority. that on two
commandments hung all the law and prophets"
namely, Love the Lord thy God" with thy whole
henc and "Iove thv neighbor as thyself."