1 Samuel 2:21, commentary and pictures

After Hannah gave up Samuel, her sacrifice was not forgotten, for the Lord blessed her with three sons and two daughters to raise and train for heaven, while the child Samuel grew in the Lord's presence. The verse stands within the history of Eli's household, where his sons committed grave sins that led the people to despise and neglect the worship God had ordained. Samuel grew up amid that corrupting influence, for those who held holy office were controlled by Satan and polluted Israel, yet though he saw and heard their sins he remained untainted because he loved God and kept close to heaven. An angel spoke with him about their wrongdoing.

His youth thus connects with his later calling as God's messenger, for when Eli failed to restrain his sons the Lord called the youthful Samuel and revealed to him the judgment coming upon Eli and his house. In that surrounding history Eli sinned by following human wisdom instead of God's commands in training his children, letting them grow from babyhood without restraint until forward, selfish, disagreeable ways became confirmed habits. The result was disaster and death to himself, ruin to his wicked sons, and ruin to thousands in Israel, proving that God's word is the only safe guide in managing children and that human philosophy has devised no wiser plan.

Eli feared his sons' displeasure and allowed their rebellion to continue until they harmed Israel, showing that parents must restrain their children rather than indulge them. His failure to restrain his wicked sons was a grave parental failure for which God cursed him, standing as a warning about the consequences of parental indulgence. Failing to restrain wicked children brings God's judgment, so rebellion must be corrected promptly rather than tolerated.