Eli Rebukes His Sons

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard about (A)everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and that they slept with (B)the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why are you doing such things as these, the evil things that I hear from all these people? 24 No, my sons; for the report is not good (C)which I hear the Lords people circulating. 25 If one person sins against another, (D)God will mediate for him; but (E)if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the (F)Lord desired to put them to death.

26 Now the boy (G)Samuel was continuing to grow and to be in favor both with the Lord and with people.

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22 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle.[a] 23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God[b] can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.

26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:22 Hebrew Tent of Meeting. Some manuscripts lack this entire sentence.
  2. 2:25 Or the judges.