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This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human
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Narrator
previously on the Chosen People. Perhaps it isn't your season. Maybe the Lord will remember you next
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year if he chooses to remember you at all.
Hannah
Elkanah, is this not.
Elkanah
Yes, a double portion.
Hannah
You are kind, my husband, but I have found that a heart without hope cannot find the strength to rejoice. God Most High, if you will indeed look upon the affliction of your servant and remember me, then I will give
Narrator
him to you all the days of his life.
Hannah
All that has been poured out tonight is my soul before the Lord.
Eli
May the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have made to him. On this day.
Hannah
I shall call him Samuel, for I have asked for him from the Lord. For this child I prayed and now I stand here testifying that the Lord has granted me my petition.
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proudly partnering with the National park foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Garnier's support of the National Park Foundation Service Corps program is enabling young adults and veterans to help care for and enhance the national parks that we all love. The National park foundation and Garnier are proud to support these individuals as they explore future careers, gain practical field skills, develop confidence as leaders, and help address priority projects across our national parks. Together, Garnier and the National park foundation are committed to a shared vision of preserving and protecting our most treasured places for future generations. Want to lend a hand? Explore Garnier's partnership with the National park foundation and learn how you can help support our national parks at@garnier USA.com NPF
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Narrator
the Tabernacle at Shiloh was alive with activity. Pilgrims bustled about, bringing sacrifices to the Lord. The smoke of burnt offerings curled upward above the tabernacle like a halo. The smell was a fragrant reminder of Israel's covenant with their God. Yet amidst this sacred atmosphere, a shadow of corruption loomed. For Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, life had become monotonous. They had known no other life than that in the shadow of their father. For most Jewish young men, to take the role of priest would have been an honour. Yet no honour was found within these two. They strode arrogantly among the worshippers. Though they were to act as intercessors between God and his people, they knew nothing of the Lord. Years of apathy had corroded away their souls, leaving nothing more than empty shells performing the motions of ceremonies and rituals. Their fine robes swayed with their animated movements despite the smiles stretched across their faces. Underneath were hearts marked with pride and marred with disdain for their calling. They had been tasked with upholding the holiness of the priesthood, but they were anything but holy. Hophni and Phinehas meandered about the Tabernacle as Eli stood stoic behind the altar. A man walked through the entrance and approached the priest. He was clutching a young ram in his arms. The animal's lifeless body was was a chilling reminder of the weight of sin and the importance of honoring God through sacrifices. The man paused to look at the holy place. He bowed his head low before making his way to the altar. Eli had begun to start the fire. Hophni passed his father with his servant close behind. The man presented the animal to the young priest.
Eli
All right, uh, let's make this quick. Attendant, take the animal and place it to the altar.
Narrator
Remove a portion for our share, then we can proceed. The worshipper's eyes widened. His mouth moved as he tried to compose himself.
Elkanah
But, but, my lord, the fat.
Narrator
The fat should be burned first, should it not? That is the Lord's portion.
Elkanah
Then, of course, the priests may.
Narrator
Hophni raised a hand abruptly to stop the man. He rubbed his eyes in his impatience.
Eli
That'll be enough from you.
Narrator
Surely. You're not questioning the decisions of the
Eli
Lord's anointed priests, are you?
Narrator
The worshipper hesitated. He looked to the holy place once more, praying for some sort of divine intervention. Yet none came. His ability to worship was left in the hands of Hophni and his greed. Just then, another young man approached from behind the altar. It was Hophni's brother, Phinehas.
Elkanah
Are we having some trouble here? Come now. Remove our portion so that we can resume with our offerings.
Narrator
He patted Hoffni on the back, a sign of support for his brother's actions. The worshipper's countenance dropped. As if overcoming the greed of one priest wasn't hard enough, overcoming the greed of two seemed impossible. The servants stepped forward, removing the choice portions for the priests. Hophni and Phinehas laughed as they turned on their heels. The worshippers stared at the ground. He had come with reverence for the Lord, but he was met with the rebellion of the young priests. It was the same wickedness that had caused others to abhor whore making their offerings to the Lord. The day carried on in this same fashion. Worshippers came to honour the Lord, but Hophni and Phinehas used them as opportunities to honour themselves. As his sons worked, Eli sat near the entrance of the tabernacle. He sat in a wooden chair, both he and his seat, worn throughout the years. He greeted each worshipper with a smile, but his heart was grieved. He had heard rumors of his son's lost ways. They had begun as whispers among the people, but recently they had become shouts that he could no longer ignore. The tension of deciding his next steps weighed around his neck like a millstone. Samuel's brow dripped with sweat. His lean arms raised the axe overhead before swinging it down with a heavy smack. The wood piece before him splintered in every direction. He stacked the wood that would be used for burnt offerings. The work was repetitive, but Samuel didn't mind. With each swing, he would say a prayer, a word of gratitude to the Lord, a song of praise to his God. Samuel counted himself blessed beyond measure to be able to serve the Lord in the tabernacle. It was the only life he had ever known, but it didn't come without its own complexities. Samuel was no orphan, but his relationship with his family extended to only a few visits a year when they would come to worship and make sacrifices. He expected their arrival soon for the Day of Atonement. He closed his eyes and pictured how it would feel to embrace them. He imagined what the robe his mother would bring him would look like. Every year she would make him a new one, and he cherished them deeply as a symbol of her ongoing love. But he was roused from his daydreaming. When Hoffner hollered for him to get back to work, he gave no response as he split more wood. He had become accustomed to Hophni and Phinehas's demands. He did his best to not be bothered by his unique circumstances. His mother and father had shared countless times the miracle God performed by blessing them with a son, and he deeply admired his mother's faithfulness to lend him to the Lord. Her faith had become a source of comfort for him, devoting himself to grow in the same reverence and strength steadfastness. As the sun loomed over the tabernacle from above, Samuel took a break from his work. He would take only a few minutes to eat and drink before continuing with his day. Only when he went to fetch his skin of water, he was greeted by Eli.
Eli
Samuel. My, my. You have been working tirelessly today, haven't you? Please come, come have a seat.
Narrator
Samuel made his way to Eli. He sat down quietly and began wringing his hands together. Eli noticed the boy's somber countenance.
Eli
Are you all alright?
Narrator
Yes, Eli. I suppose I'm just restless. My family should be here any day now.
Eli
You are quite right. Except it is not any day now. It is today.
Narrator
You mean.
Man of God
Yes, yes.
Eli
I sent up my servant early today to confirm your family safely arrived in the city just this morning. They should be arriving here any minute now, so please go clean up. The wood can wait.
Narrator
Samuel stood to his feet and ran his hands through his hair. He looked at his dirty palms. He ran off with a skip in his step and a smile spread wide across his face.
Jana Kramer
This is Jana Kramer from Wind down with Jana Kramer. Instead of giving your mom something that fades, give her something that becomes part of her home this Mother's Day. The Lenox Spice Village is a set of 24 hand painted little houses that are actually spice jars, perfect for anyone who loves to cook, entertain or enjoy the little details that make everyday life special. As a mom, I love gifts that help turn ordinary moments into memories. Charming, timeless and meant to be used. This is one of those pieces she'll treasure and once you see it, you'll want it for your own home too. Find the full collection@lenox.com SpiceVillage Garnier is
Podcast Host
proudly partnering with the National park foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Garnier's support of the National Park Foundation Service Corps program is enabling young adults and veterans to help care for and enhance the national parks that we all love. The National park foundation and Garnier are proud to support these individuals as they explore future careers, gain practical field skills, develop confidence as leaders, and help address priority projects across our national parks. Together, Garnier and the National park foundation are committed to a shared vision of preserving and protecting our most treasured places for future generations. Want to lend a hand? Explore Garnier's partnership with the National park foundation and learn how you can help support our national parks@garnierusa.com NPF support for
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the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI, it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosure is available at public.com disclosure
Narrator
after cleaning, Samuel dressed in his linen ephod. He found a quiet spot in the tabernacle and began to pray. His voice was humble, hardly more than a whisper, but his words reflected a purity that stood in stark contrast to the corrupt words of hophni and phinehas that could be heard in the distance. Despite their disloyalty to God, Samuel remained focused on the holiness of the Lord. As he prayed, his family entered the tabernacle. Hannah's eyes darted around. She clenched the small robe she was holding tightly. Anticipation welled up inside her when suddenly she spotted who she was looking for. Her heart leaped with joy as she pulled at Elkana. She could hardly believe how her little boy had grown. As they got closer, she could hear small portions of his prayers. She was overcome with pride to see him growing in the Lord. Samuel sprang to his feet at the sight of his parents. Tears started to steadily stream down Hannah's cheeks. With quivering hands, she extended handed the gift out to her son. He took it and slowly rubbed his fingers over the cloth. To Samuel, this was more than a robe. Each stitch was evidence of his mother thinking about him, praying for him, loving him. Without a word, he flung his arms open and wrapped them around his mother and father. Elkanah was the first to break the silence.
Elkanah
Easy now. Your Abba is not as steady on his feet as he once was.
Hannah
Oh my son, how wonderful it is to see you walking in the ways of the Lord. May you be blessed and may your heart always remain pure before him.
Narrator
She wrapped her hands around his face just as Eli approached from behind them. The elderly priest leaned on his staff. As he inhaled, he took in the beautiful scene before him. He commended Hannah and Elkanah for the dedication of their son.
Eli
Elkanah, Hannah, in all my years I have not found one of the Lord's servants to be like Samuel. May the Lord give you more children through this woman for the gift she has given to him.
Narrator
Elkanah and Hannah bowed their heads. Their hearts swirled with gratitude for what they had and hope for what the Lord would provide. The years proved God's faithfulness. They continued to bear sons and daughters and devoted themselves to raising them in the fear of the Lord. Both their houses and hearts were full, and as for Samuel, he remained uniquely set apart for the Lord's work. Day by day, he gave himself completely to God, trusting in the path he was setting before him. After Samuel's family departed from the tabernacle, Eli sat in silence, though within him a storm raged. Watching Samuel with Elkanah and Hannah had only confirmed his need to confront his own sons. With a heavy sigh, he asked his servant to call for them. He closed his eyes and prayed as he waited. Hophni and Phinehas arrived promptly, though seemingly annoyed by the distraction.
Elkanah
You've called for us? We have our hands quite full, you know.
Narrator
Eli shook his head in disappointment. Even now, they dismissed him. But more grievously, they dismissed Adonai.
Eli
My sons, why do you do such things?
Elkanah
It is our role as priests we are only doing.
Eli
I have heard of your wicked deeds among the people and how you dishonor God. The reports I hear spreading throughout God's people have only confirmed what I feared. You have become a stumbling block for the people.
Elkanah
Hey, don't look at me. Hophni's the one who told me.
Eli
Don't give me that, Phineas. I know your deeds. You've both acted together. If one person sins against another, their transgressions may be mediated. But if one sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?
Elkanah
It seems that your aging years deceive you. We're only doing what's asked of us. Now, if you don't mind, it seems it's best that we get back to the work at hand.
Narrator
As his sons arrogantly strode away, Eli's shoulders sagged. He dropped into his chair. As his eyes welled with sadness, he couldn't find the means to accept the reality that his sons were lost and had chosen the path of darkness. That night, Eli drifted off into a restless sleep. He anxiously rolled to his side, but his disquieted state prevented him from finding any comfort in his bed. Eli heard the wind rushing outside. He pulled his blanket up over his head. Then he heard what he thought were footsteps. He pressed himself and peered through the darkness. In the shadows, he could make out the figure of a man.
Hannah
Is.
Eli
Is there someone there?
Narrator
He called out hesitantly. Suddenly, a dim light shone, as though the man before him was glowing. Eli's eyes widened as the light grew brighter. The stranger answered as though he had heard Eli's silent inquiry.
Man of God
This is what the Lord says. Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestors when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? I chose your family out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priests, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod in my presence. But now you honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people in Israel.
Narrator
Eli's breath caught in his chest. He couldn't have spoken, even if he had known what to say. But the man of God continued, therefore
Man of God
the Lord, the God of Israel declares, I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever. But now the Lord declares, far be it from me. Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your family, so that no one in it will reach old age.
Narrator
The words hit like stones of judgment, heavy and irrevocable.
Man of God
And you will see an enemy in my dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever, but any of your men whom I do not cut off from my altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. Now this shall be assigned to you that will come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phineas. In one day they shall die, both of them.
Narrator
The edict confirmed Eli's greatest fear. He had been broken over evil brought about by his son sons. But no good father would ever wish such a fate on his children. The elderly priest sat in stunned silence as the man of God finished, I
Man of God
will raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house and they will minister before me anointed always.
Narrator
As suddenly as he appeared, the man of God departed. Eli rubbed his eyes, finally feeling his chest breathe again. But his slow breaths quickly turned to sobs as the crushing realization of what was to come set in. His son's wickedness would bring about their own downfall, and his own failure to intercede would had lost his entire lineage the hope of carrying on in the priesthood. But hope was not lost for the people of Israel. In a nearby room, the young boy, Samuel, sat up in his bed. He panted as sweat dripped down his face. He looked around the darkness slowly. He called out to see if anyone was there, but he heard no answer. Just a dream, I suppose.
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Podcast: The Chosen People
Host: Pray.com
Date: April 28, 2026
Episode Theme: The corruption and spiritual decline of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, contrasted with Samuel’s devotion, and the consequences of failed leadership within the priesthood.
This episode dives deep into the narrative of Eli, the high priest of Israel, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas, as told in the Old Testament. Through evocative storytelling, the episode explores themes of faithfulness versus corruption, the burden and responsibility of leadership, parental grief, and the enduring hope found in God's provision. Samuel is positioned as a shining counterpoint to the wayward priests, and the voice of prophecy brings a sobering warning to Eli and his lineage.
The episode employs vivid narration, drawing listeners into the emotional and spiritual struggles of each character. The language balances biblical reverence with human vulnerability, especially in Eli’s grief and Samuel’s quiet hope. It is contemplative, sincere, and evocative, aiming to prompt reflection on personal faith, leadership, and the consequences of moral compromise.
“Eli’s Worthless Sons” provides a powerful meditation on leadership and responsibility, showing how the corruption of those called to serve can lead to generational consequences. Yet, in the midst of judgment, the episode preserves the thread of hope: that God remains faithful and will always raise up those truly devoted to him, as exemplified in Samuel.