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.