1 Samuel 2:25

If one man&c. Better,

If a man sin against a man, then Elohim shall judge him:

but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall intercede for him?

For man's offences against his fellow-man, there is a third superior party to arbitrate and rectify the wrongs, namely God, or God's representative, the duly appointed judge: but for man's offences against Jehovah, there is no third superior party to intercede as a mediator.

This is most likely an ancient proverb, quoted by Eli to impress his sons with a sense of the enormity of their sins, which were committed against Jehovah. The point is obscured by the impossibility of translating the paronomasia of the Hebrew which expresses "judge" and "intercede" by different voices of the same verb.

the judge Heb. Elôhîm, i.e. God. Judges, as the representatives of God in executing justice on earth (Deuteronomy 1:17), are sometimes styled gods(Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8-9; Psalms 82:1; Psalms 82:6), but it seems best not to limit the present passage to human judgments.

because theLord would slay them Literally, was pleased to slay them. Compare the language of Exodus 4:21, and Joshua 11:20, where we read that the Lord hardened the heartsof Pharaoh and the Canaanites; and 1 Samuel 16:14, where it is said that "an evil spirit from the Lordtroubled Saul." Yet we are assured that "the Lord delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18), and "hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth" (Ezekiel 18:32). This coexistence of mercy and judgment in the divine will (Exodus 34:6-7) is a mystery which necessarily transcends our comprehension. But it must be carefully noted that it is not till Pharaoh has turned a deaf ear to repeated warnings, not till the Canaanites have polluted themselves with intolerable abominations, that God hardens their hearts; not till Eli's sons have ignored His existence and defied His laws docs He determine to slay them: not till Saul has set at naught his calling and deserted God, is he deserted by Him. Obstinate impenitence may be judicially punished by the withdrawal of the grace which leads to repentance.