1Sa 2:31 | KD | STEP | “ Behold, days come ,” - a formula with which prophets were accustomed to announce future events (see 2Ki 20:17; ; ; ; ; , etc.), - “ then will I cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall be no old man in thine house .” To cut off the arm means to destroy the strength either of a man or of a family (see Job. ; ). The strength of a family, however, consists in the vital energy of its members, and shows itself in the fact that they reach a good old age, and do not pine away early and die. This strength was to vanish in Eli’s house; no one would ever again preserve his life to old age.

‏ 1 Samuel 2:31

“Behold, days come,” - a formula with which prophets were accustomed to announce future events (see 2Ki 20:17; Isa 39:6; Amo 4:2; Amo 8:11; Amo 9:13; Jer 7:32, etc.), - “then will I cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall be no old man in thine house.” To cut off the arm means to destroy the strength either of a man or of a family (see Job. 1Sa 22:9; Psa 37:17). The strength of a family, however, consists in the vital energy of its members, and shows itself in the fact that they reach a good old age, and do not pine away early and die. This strength was to vanish in Eli’s house; no one would ever again preserve his life to old age.