therefore obliged to relate this history of Ruth, because I had a
mind to demonstrate the power of God, who, without difficulty,
can raise those that are of ordinary parentage to dignity and
splendor, to which he advanced David, though he were born of such
mean parents.

CHAPTER 10.

Concerning The Birth Of Samuel; And How He Foretold The Calamity
That Befell The Sons Of Eli.

1. And now upon the ill state of the affairs of the Hebrews, they
made war again upon the Philistines. The occasion was this: Eli,
the high priest, had two sons, Hophni and Phineas. These sons of
Eli were guilty of injustice towards men, and of impiety towards
God, and abstained from no sort of wickedness. Some of their
gifts they carried off, as belonging to the honorable employment
they had; others of them they took away by violence. They also
were guilty of impurity with the women that came to worship God
at the tabernacle, obliging some to submit to their lust by
force, and enticing others by bribes; nay, the whole course of
their lives was no better than tyranny. Their father therefore
was angry at them for such their wickedness, and expected that
God would suddenly inflict his punishments upon them for what
they had done. The multitude took it heinously also. And as soon
as God had foretold what calamity would befall Eli's sons, which
he did both to Eli himself and to Samuel the prophet, who was yet
but a child, he openly showed his sorrow for his sons'
destruction.