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1 Samuel 2:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 2:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.
1 Samuel 2:12 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
10They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in heaven: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; And he will give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.
11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.
12Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.
13And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest`s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;
14and 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.
15Yea, before they burnt the fat, the priest`s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of thee, but raw.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial, etc.] Not that Eli their father was Belial, a wicked man; but though they had so good a father, they were very wicked men, unprofitable abandoned wretches, that cast off the yoke of the law of God, and gave themselves up to all manner of wickedness: they knew not the Lord; not that they had no knowledge of God in theory, or were real atheists, but they were so practically; they denied him in works, they had no love to him, nor fear of him, and departed from his ways and worship, as much as if they were entirely ignorant of him; so the Targum, “they did not know to fear before the Lord,” or serve him; or, as Kimchi, “they did not know the way of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“THE SIN OF ELl'S SONS. (Sa1 2:12-17) Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial--not only careless and irreligious, but men loose in their actions, and vicious and scandalous in their habits. Though professionally engaged in sacred duties, they were not only strangers to the power of religion in the heart, but they had thrown off its restraints, and even ran, as is sometimes done in similar cases by the sons of eminent ministers, to the opposite extreme of reckless and open profligacy.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Sons of Belial - See the marginal reference note. The phrase is very frequent in the books of Samuel. In the New Testament, Paul contrasts Christ and Belial, as if Belial were the name of an idol or the personification of evil 2 Corinthians 6:15. This probably led to the use of the term “Belial” in the the King James Version, instead of expressing its meaning, which is “mischief, wickedness.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Knew not - They did not honour, love, or serve God. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:12 scoundrels (Hebrew sons of Belial): See study note on 1:16. • had no respect for (literally did not know) the Lord: Although they were priests among God’s people, they did not acknowledge God or seek to abide by his will (cp. Jer 2:8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the sons: Hos 4:6-9; Mal 2:1-9 sons of Belial: Sa1 10:27, Sa1 25:17; Deu 13:13; Jdg 19:22; Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13; Co2 6:15 knew: Sa1 3:7; Jdg 2:10; Jer 2:8, Jer 22:16; Joh 8:55, Joh 16:3, Joh 17:3; Rom 1:21, Rom 1:28-30 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:14”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification