1 Samuel 2:31

“Behold, the days come, etc.] Or, are coming f60; and will quickly come, in a very little time the things, after threatened, began to take place, even in the days of Eli’s sons, and the whole was accomplished in about eighty years after: that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house: that is, the strength of him and them, as the Targum, the strength of a man for doing business lying in his arm; meaning by it not long life, as Kimchi, who concludes this sense from what follows; but rather power and authority, or the exercise of the office of high priest, which gave him and his family great esteem and power; or it may be best of all, his children, which are the strength of a…”

“I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house--By the withdrawal of the high priesthood from Eleazar, the elder of Aaron's two sons (after Nadab and Abihu were destroyed, [Num 3:4]), that dignity had been conferred on the family of Ithamar, to which Eli belonged, and now that his descendants had forfeited the honor, it was to be taken from them and restored to the elder branch.”

“I will cut off thine arm ... - A strong phrase for breaking down the strength and power, of which the arm is the instrument in man (compare Zechariah 11:17). See 1 Samuel 2:33. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Arm - That is, I will take away thy strength, or all that in which thou placest thy confidence, either, the ark, which is called God's strength, Psa 78:61, and was Eli's strength, who therefore was not able to bear the very tidings of the loss of it. Or, his priestly dignity or employment, whence he had all his honour and substance. Or rather, his children, to whom the words following here, and in the succeeding verses, seem to confine it. Father's house - That is, thy children's children, and all thy family which was in great measure accomplished, Sa1 22:16, &c. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:32”

“I will cut: That is, I will destroy the strength, power, influence, and authority of thee and thy family; of which the arm of man being the instrument, is used as the emblem. Sa1 4:2, Sa1 4:11, Sa1 4:17-20, Sa1 14:3, Sa1 22:17-20; Kg1 2:26, Kg1 2:27, Kg1 2:35; Job 22:9; Psa 37:17; Eze 30:21-24, Eze 44:10 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:32”