And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Ver. 3. And his sons walked not in his ways.] Heroum filii noxae. Grace is by gift, not inheritance. See Trapp on " 1Sa 3:12 " This was no fault of Samuel's, as hath been said. Plato worthily blameth Darius for so ill breeding his son Xerxes, whereas he had seen the evil consequence in Cyrus's breeding Cambyses, whom Darius succeeded in the empire.
But turned aside after lucre.] Whereas a public person, as he should have nothing to lose, so nothing to get: he should be above all price or sale. Nec prece, nec precio, should be his motto.
And perverted judgment.] Which to prevent, the Areopagites judged always in the dark, that they might neither respect persons nor take gifts.