Study it in the app“If a man sins against a man, Elohim will arbitrate for him; but if a man sins against YHWH, who will pray for him?” But they did not listen to the voice of their father, for YHWH wanted to put them to death.”
Eli rebukes his sons, but they do not listen to his voiceParents and Children
Ifאִםa manאִישׁsinsיֶחֱטָאagainst a man,לְאִישׁElohimאֱלֹהִיםwill arbitrate for him;וּפִלְלוֹbut ifוְאִםa manאִישׁsinsיֶחֱטָאagainst YHWH,לַיהוָהwhoמִיwill prayיִתְפַּלֶּלfor him?”לוֹBut they did notוְלֹאlistenיִשְׁמְעוּto the voiceלְקוֹלof their father,אֲבִיהֶםforכִּיYHWHיְהוָהwantedחָפֵץto put them to death.לַהֲמִיתָם
man
An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.
Where else “ish” appearssin
To do wrong, fail God or another.
Where else “yecheta” appearsjudges
Judges who judged in God's name.
Where else “elohim” appearsarbitrate
To judge between two.
Where else “fill” appearsYHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yhva” appearsobey
To obey: "listen to the voice" of someone.
Where else “yishmu” appearsvoice
What is heard when someone speaks or sings; also the voice of God.
Where else “kol” appearsfather
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appearsdesire
To wish for something, be willing.
Where else “chafets” appearskill
To kill someone.
Where else “hamita” appears“Arbitrate” and “pray” are in Hebrew the same verb: in a dispute between people there is someone to mediate; against YHWH there is no one else to turn to. The last sentence explains no further; earlier the narrative has said that they did not know YHWH (verse 12) and that they spurned the offering of YHWH (verse 17).
24No, my sons; for the report that I hear the people of YHWH spreading is not good.
25 · This verse (above)
26And the boy Samuel went on growing and being good both with YHWH and with men.
