²² Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything that his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ²³ So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I keep hearing from all these people about your evil actions. ²⁴ No, my sons, it is not a good report that I hear! The people are spreading this report everywhere.^{[a] 25} If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will mediate for him?” But they did not listen to the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to put them to death.^[b]

²⁶ The young man Samuel continued to grow, and he increased in favor with both the Lord and with men.