Accepted Bribes

1 Samuel 8:3 – But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

1 Samuel 2:12 – Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.

Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1 Samuel 12:3 – Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”

Application:

• ·         Perversion of justice through bribery was explicitly forbidden in Pentateuchal law.
• ·         In Old Testament usage, to “know” the Lord is not just intellectual or theoretical recognition. It is to enter into fellowship with Him and acknowledge His claims on one’s life.
• ·         “Laid on Him the iniquity of us all”, just as the priest laid his hands on the scapegoat and symbolically put Israel’s sins on it.
• ·         Unlike his sons, Samuel did not use his position for personal gain.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV