1 Samuel 2:28

And did I chuse him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my Priest, to offer vpon mine altar, to burne incense, to weare an Ephod before me? and did I giue vnto the house of thy father, all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 1 Samuel 2:28 (KJV)

The verse is part of a divine message addressed to Eli, recalling how God had chosen Eli’s ancestral line—the house of Aaron—to serve as priests. This selection was first made during the Exodus from Egypt, when God established the priesthood among the tribes of Israel. The ephod mentioned was a special garment worn by the high priest in the tabernacle service, signifying the sacred role entrusted to Aaron’s descendants (see Exodus 28). The “offerings made by fire” were the burnt‑offering sacrifices that the priestly line was charged to receive on behalf of the nation.

Historical context helps to illuminate the significance of this declaration. At the time the narrative unfolds, Israel was moving from the period of the judges toward the establishment of a monarchy. Eli served as both high priest and judge over Israel, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas held priestly positions. Their corrupt practices caused the people to despise the offerings presented to the Lord, prompting divine rebuke.

The passage underscores that the priestly privileges and responsibilities—including offering sacrifices, burning incense, and wearing the ephod—were reserved for the Levitical priests descended from Aaron (see Numbers 3). The house of Eli’s father was therefore entrusted with all fire‑offered sacrifices of Israel, a commission that carried both honor and accountability. The verse thus serves as a reminder of God’s sovereign choice of a priestly tribe, the solemn duties attached to that choice, and the serious consequences when those duties are neglected.