17
The sin of the young men was very great before the LORD; for the men despised the offering of the LORD.
18
But Shemu'el ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen efod.
19
Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20
`Eli blessed Elkana and his wife, and said, the LORD give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of the LORD. They went to their own home.
21
The LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Shemu'el grew before the LORD.
22
Now `Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Yisra'el, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the tent of meeting.
23
He said to them, Why do you such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.
24
No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make the LORD's people to disobey.
25
If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD was minded to kill them.
26
The child Shemu'el grew on, and increased in favor both with the LORD, and also with men.
27
There came a man of God to `Eli, and said to him, Thus says the LORD, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Mitzrayim [in bondage] to Par`oh's house?