Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.
In these verses we have the good character and posture of Elkanah's family, and the bad character and posture of Eli's family. The account of these two is observably interwoven throughout this whole paragraph, as if the historian intended to set the one over against the other, that they might set off one another.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 2:11-26
But Samuel ministered before the Lord,.... The ministration of Samuel, though a child, is observed both before and after the account of the ill behaviour and wickedness of Eli's sons; partly to the shame and disgrace of them, and as serving to aggravate their sin, and make it appear the more black and heinous; and partly to his honour and reputation, that he was not...
Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. (o) Seeing the horrible abuse of it.