(a) Eli, a priest at Shiloh, had two worthless sons. They committed acts of immorality with female worshippers at Shiloh and they also desecrated sacrifices offered to God. The report eventually came to Eli and prophesied doom on his family, but Eli did nothing more to stop the unholy act. A man of God also came to Eli and prophesied doom on his family. And even when God confirmed the prophecy through Samuel, Eli just said "It is the Lord, let Him do what seems good to him."

(b) As a result of Eli's parental irresponsibility, Israel suffered in the following ways:
(i) God sent the Philistines to fight Israel.
(ii) Israel was defeated in the war.
(iii) About three thousand Israelites died in the war.
(iv) Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, the priest, were among those killed.
v) Those who survived in the battle fled.
(vi) The Ark of the Lord was captured by the Philistines.
(vii) When Eli heard that the enemy captured the Ark of the Lord, he fell backwards, broke his neck and died.
(viii) When Eli's daughter-in-law heard the bad news, she had a premature baby and she died.
(ix) That baby was named "Ichabod", meaning, "glory has departed from Israel".

(c) The lessons that can be derived from the attitude of Eli are:
(i) Parents should take time to teach their children the word of God.
(ii) There is need to pray together-the use of the family altar should be of paramount importance.
(iii) Parents should inculcate in their children the spirit of fear of God in all they do.
(iv) There is need to heed the warning of prophets/men of God.
(v) The consequences of evil relationship between men and women must be pointed out to children.
(vi) Disobedience to the commandments of God could bring adverse consequences.