17
Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
18
Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen ephod.
19
And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20
Then Eli would bless Elka'nah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you children by this woman for the loan which she lent to the LORD"; so then they would return to their home.
21
And the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.
22
Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served 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 the people.
24
No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
25
If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them.
26
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.
27
And there came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, "Thus the LORD has said, 'I revealed myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh.