Eli had greatly erred in permitting his sons to minister in holy office. By excusing their course, on one pretext and another, he became blinded to their sins; but at last they reached a pass where he could no longer hide his eyes from the crimes of his sons. The people complained of their violent deeds, and the high priest was grieved and distressed. He dared remain silent no longer. But his sons had been brought up to think of no one but themselves, and now they cared for no one else. They saw the grief of their father, but their hard hearts were not touched. They heard his mild admonitions, but they were not impressed, nor would they change their evil course though warned of the consequences of their sins. Had Eli dealt justly with his wicked sons, they would have been rejected from the priestly office and punished with death. Dreading thus to bring public disgrace and condemnation upon them, he sustained them in the most sacred positions of trust. He still permitted them to mingle their corruption with the holy service of God and to inflict upon the cause of truth an injury which years could not efface. But when the judge of Israel neglected his work, God took the matter in hand.

Det var en stor fejl af Eli at lade disse sønner beklæde dette hellige embede, men han blev ved at finde undskyldninger for deres opførsel, og til sidst lagde han slet ikke mærke til deres synder. Det gik dog så vidt, at han ikke kunne blive ved med at lukke øjnene for deres forbrydelser. Folket beklagede sig over deres voldshandlinger, og ypperstepræsten blev dybt bekymret og vovede ikke at forholde sig tavs længer. Men hans sønner var ikke blevet opdraget til at tænke på andre end sig selv, og da de var blevet voksne, brød de sig ikke om andre. De så deres faders store sorg, men deres hjerte var hårdt og upåvirkeligt. Hans milde irettesættelse gjorde heller ikke indtryk på dem, og det kunne ikke falde dem ind at holde op med at synde, selv om de fik at vide, at de selv måtte tage følgerne. Hvis Eli havde givet sine onde sønner den behandling, som de fortjente, ville han have afsat dem fra deres embede og dømt dem til døden. Men for at undgå at dømme dem og kaste vanære over dem i offentlighedens øjne lod han dem beholde deres højt betroede stillinger. Han lod dem fortsætte med at besmitte den hellige tjeneste, som Gud havde indstiftet, og at tilføje sandhedens sag et tab, som ikke kunne opvejes igennem mange år. Israels dommer havde forsømt at gøre sin pligt, og nu tog Gud sagen i sin hånd.