Eli’s sons do not listen and repent because the Lord has hardened their hearts and determined to put them to death (cf. Romans 1:18–32). Their resistance was the result of the Lord’s judgment and not the reason for it.1 The Lord wanted to demonstrate his justice with the deaths of Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:34). And they will be judged by the Lord because they have rejected his Word.2
25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.