Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 2:13-17 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 2 in context

Scripture Focus

13And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

14And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

16And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

17Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:13-17

Biblical Context

Priests pressuring sacrifices seize meat from offerings, demand raw portions, and rush the ritual, turning worship into greed; the passage closes by stating the sin of the young men was very great and that people abhorred the offering.

Neville's Inner Vision

View the scene as a revelation of inner states rather than distant temple affairs. The priests are inner habits of consciousness—authority figures of the mind that would grab what life offers before the transformative fire has burned away the rough edges. The fleshhook is the instrument of immediate appetite, pulling morsels from the pot, symbolizing how egoic desire takes from life before the true sacrifice is complete. The demand for raw flesh before the fat is burned signals a consciousness that would extract sweetness without sacrifice, a misalignment with the law of God as I AM. When such acts are tolerated, the offering becomes tainted and people grow to abhor worship. The remedy is inner reformation: assume the role of the I AM within and rule the sacrifice. Let the inner servant be quiet, allow the fat to burn, and see the meat consecrated to purpose—your life, your goal—offered with discernment and love. The sin lies not in outward acts but in allowing an outer scene to govern your inner worship. Practice: revise by assuming perfect obedience in the mind, and feel the alignment now.

Practice This Now

Practice: assume the state of the inner priest governing your offerings. When a desire arises, pause, imagine the inner servant stepping back, permit the fat to burn, and feel your offering purified as peace.