Which Judge and Priest raised Samuel and was judged by God for failing to restrain his sinful sons?

• A. Eli
• B. Samuel
• C. Saul
• D. David

Answer: (A)

Eli is the one who fits this description. He served as priest at Shiloh and, though Samuel was raised under his oversight, Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, lived in open sin. Eli did rebuke them, but he did not restrain or discipline them as he should have, and God holds him responsible for this failure. This is shown in passages where God declares judgment on Eli’s house because of the sins of his sons and Eli’s lack of decisive action to stop them (1 Samuel 2:12-17; 1 Samuel 3:12-14). Samuel grew up under Eli’s mentorship, but Samuel himself becomes a prophet rather than a judge or king, whereas Saul and David are known as kings, not the priestly judge who raised Samuel.