Why does it say that Eli was very old?
Tanchuma (Chayei Sarah 2): There are four 1 things that spring old age on a person - fear (regarding David - Divrei ha'Yamim 1 21:30, Divrei ha'Yamim 1 23:1), anger at children (Eli), wars (Yehoshua 23:1), and an evil wife (regarding Shlomo - Melachim 1 11:4).
Radak: He could no longer serve as Kohen, due to his old age, therefore his sons did what they did with Kehunah. 2 Even though years do not disqualify a Kohen (Chulin 24a), he was so old that his arms and legs shook amidst weakness.
What is the meaning of "Asher Yishkevun"?
Rashi: They slept with the women.
Rashi citing Shabbos 55b: They delayed offering birds for women [to complete their Taharah, e.g. after giving birth], and the women delayed [there until they were offered. Since they delayed them from returning to their husbands, the verse attributes as if they slept with them.]
Ha'Rif (on Ein Yakov Yuma 9a): They caused the women to stay overnight, and sleep [outside] Pesach Ohel Mo'ed.
Malbim: The opinion that Bnei Eli did not sleep with the women, he holds that Yishkevun refers to Yisrael. Many men and women who needed to delay there, they slept in front of Chatzer ha'Mishkan, for there were not inns. Sometimes they came to sin (Zenus), especially since the Kohanim did not supervise to sanctify and guard the people properly.
Why is "Yishkevun" written Chaser (without a Vov)?
Rav (Shabbos 55b): (This is like singular.) Pinchas did not sin. 1 Had he sinned, Pesukim would not mention him in the lineage of Tzadikim! Also Ma'avirim is Chaser (without a Yud) 2 . It says (verse 12) Bnei Beliya'al (plural) because Pinchas should have protested against Chofni.
After Rav established that Pinchas did not sin, he learns from a Hekesh that also Chofni did not. I.e. neither slept with the women. They surely transgressed to deserve the severe curse that they received! (PF)
Tosfos (55b): In the Gemara's text of the Navi,] it is written Ma'aviram (singular. Rashi - no text of the Navi says Ma'aviram. This answer and even the question must be deleted. "Ma'avirim" refers to Am Hashem, and not Eli's sons. Maharam - Rashi is bothered that our errant text attributes this answer to a particular Amora. Maharal - Rav Huna answered that the first Yud in Ma'avirim is omitted, to hint that the bad reports were deficient; they were only about Chofni, but not about Pinchas.)
Why does it say "Tzov'os"?
Radak: They gave birth, and came to bring Korban Yoledes. It says also about the Leviyim who came to serve in the Mishkan "Litzvo Tzava" (Bamidbar 8:24), because they come to like a legion. Also the women gathered to bring their Korbanos. It says also about the women [who gave their mirrors for the Mishkan] "ha'Tzov'os" (Shemos 38:8).
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: They came to pray. This is also the Targum of "ha'Tzov'os" (Shemos 38:8) regarding those who donated for the Mishkan).
Ba'al ha'Turim: It uses the same expression as for who gave their mirrors for the Mishkan (Shemos 38:8). Also there, it refers to intimacy (they had used their mirrors to arouse their husbands desire, in order to bear children).
Why does it say "Pesach Ohel Mo'ed"?
Radak: They did not enter the Mishkan. (They stayed outside. It says so also about the women who donated for the Mishkan - Shemos 38:8). Beis Hashem (the Mikdash) in Shilo is called Ohel Mo'ed because it did not have a [firm] roof, only curtains above (Zevachim 112a).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that they delayed offering Kinim. Why did they delay particularly these?
Ha'Rif (on Ein Yakov Yuma 9a, brought in Torah ha'Temimah): Kohanim do not get anything to eat from Kinim 1 , so they gave precedence to animals.
They get nothing from voluntary Kinim (Olos ha'Of), but presumably, most women brought obligatory Kinim (for births or Zivah), which include Chatas ha'Of, which Kohanim eat! However, the birds are small and have little meat, and Melikah is among the hardest Avodos in the Mikdash (Yuma 47b). Perhaps they preferred to delay the birds until a day when they did not have meat from animals. Or, they wanted extra meat for their families. (It seems that they took extra even from a bull; refer to 2:14:1:3. Does its thigh and chest not suffice for one man to eat within one and a half days?!) Chatas ha'Of is only for male Kohanim to eat in the Mikdash.(PF)
