18. Meanwhile the boy Samuel, wearing a linen ephod, was serving in the presence of the Lord.
19. His mother used to make a little garment for him, which she would bring him each time she went up with her husband to offer the customary sacrifice.
20. And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, as they were leaving for home. He would say, “May the Lord repay you with children from this woman for the gift she has made to the Lord!”
21. The Lord favored Hannah so that she conceived and gave birth to three more sons and two daughters, while young Samuel grew up in the service of the Lord.
22. When Eli was very old, he kept hearing how his sons were treating all Israel, and that they were behaving promiscuously with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent.
23. So he said to them: “Why are you doing such things? I hear from everyone that your behavior is depraved.