Eli had instructed his children in the law of God, and had given them a good example in his own life; but this was not his whole duty. God required him, both as a father and as a priest, to restrain them from following their own perverse will. This he had failed to do (The Signs of the Times, November 10, 1881).{2BC 1009.2}

Eli havde undervist sine børn i Guds lov, og havde givet dem et godt eksempel i hans eget liv; men dette var ikke hele hans opgave. Gud forlangte af ha, både som fader og som præst, at betvinge dem fra at følge deres egen forvanskede vilje. Dette fik han ikke gjort (ST 10. nov., 1881).