16. Usually the people answered, “Take what you want. But first, let us sacrifice the fat to the Lord.”“No,” the servant would reply. “If you don't give it to me now, I'll take it by force.”
17. Eli's sons did not show any respect for the sacrifices that the people offered. This was a terrible sin, and it made the Lord very angry.
18. The boy Samuel served the Lord and wore a special linen garment
19. and the clothes his mother made for him. She would bring new clothes every year, when she and her husband came to offer sacrifices at Shiloh.
20. Eli would always bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “Samuel was born in answer to your prayers. Now you have given him to the Lord. I pray that the Lord will bless you with more children to take his place.” After Eli had blessed them, Elkanah and Hannah would return home.
21. The Lord was kind to Hannah, and she had three more sons and two daughters. But Samuel grew up at the Lord's house in Shiloh.
22. Eli was now very old, and he heard what his sons were doing to the people of Israel.
23-24. “Why are you doing these awful things?” he asked them. “I've been hearing nothing but complaints about you from all the Lord's people.
25. If you harm another person, God can help make things right between the two of you. But if you commit a crime against the Lord, no one can help you!”But the Lord had already decided to kill them. So he kept them from listening to their father.
26. Each day the Lord and his people liked Samuel more and more.
27. One day a prophet came to Eli and gave him this message from the Lord:When your ancestors were slaves of the king of Egypt, I came and showed them who I am.