Normally in Israel, when there was a conflict between two parties, there would be judges (older men) who can mediate between them (see Exodus 18:1–27). These judges represented God and were expected to judge rightly, that is, with God’s justice (cf. Psalm 58:1–11).1 In the case of a dispute between man and God, there is no third party who can intervene. No one stands above God. This is the sense of his comments. A quarrel with God must go on to the bitter end and, since your quarrel is with God, you will not be vindicated (i.e., you are in the wrong and you will be punished).2 Since every human being sins against God, Eli’s question suggests that there is no hope of salvation for sinners. The apostle Paul, however, affirms that Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).3 The writer of Hebrews also tells us that Jesus can intercede on our behalf (Hebrews 7:24).
25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.