Eli Rebukes His Sons

22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who (A)were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, (B)for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.

26 Now the boy Samuel (C)continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

Read full chapter

Eli Rebukes His Evil Sons

22 Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel and that they were having sexual relations with the women who were serving at the entrance of the tent of assembly.[a] 23 And he asked them, “Why are you doing all these things that I am hearing, namely, your evil dealings with all these people? 24 No, my sons, the report is not good that I am hearing the people of Yahweh spreading. 25 If a man sins against a man, then God can intercede for him. But if a man sins against Yahweh, who can intercede for him?” But they did not obey[b] their father, because Yahweh wanted to kill them. 26 But the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor[c] with Yahweh and with the people.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:22 Or “meeting”
  2. 1 Samuel 2:25 Literally “listen to the voice of”
  3. 1 Samuel 2:26 Literally “was going and being great and good”