Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

over the corrupt practices of Hophni and Phinehas, and they stopped
coming to the place of worship. Ungodliness, immorality, and even
idolatry became common to a terrible level.
Eli had done great wrong in permitting his sons to minister as
priests. Making excuses for them for one reason or another, he
became blinded to their sins. But at last he could no longer hide his
eyes from the crimes of his sons. The people complained about their
evil deeds, and the high priest did not dare to remain silent any
longer. His sons saw the grief of their father, but their hard hearts
were not touched. They heard his mild rebukes, but they were not
impressed, and they would not change their evil course. If Eli had
treated his wicked sons according to law, they would have been
punished with death. Dreading to take any steps that would bring
public disgrace and condemnation on them, he kept them in the most
sacred positions of trust. He permitted them to corrupt the service of
God and inflict an injury on the cause of truth that years could not
undo. But God took the matter into His own hands.
Eli's Unfaithfulness Leads to Ruin
"A man of God came to Eli and said to him, 'Thus says the
Lord: ... "Why do you ... honor your sons more than Me, to make
yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My
people?" Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: "I said indeed that
your house and the house of your father would walk before Me
forever." But now the Lord says, "Far be it from Me; for those who
honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly
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