at this time, thus insinuating that God had not been communicating to or through the religious personnel at the sanctuary. Adding to this unfavorable report on the religious situation at Shiloh is the physical description of Eli himself: his eyes were failing and he was unable to see (v 2). The notice about Eli’s failing health also functions as a critique of his ineffectiveness as a priest. The report about Eli’s diminishing sight in v 2 functions like a metaphor indicating his inability to perceive