Eli Rebukes His Sons and the Law of Removing a Disgraced Elder

"And he said to them, 'Why do you do such things?' etc." (1 Samuel 2:23). Rabbi Abbahu said: The Torah has taught you proper conduct (derekh eretz): when you hear good about your fellow, you may report it in the name of the one who said it; but when you hear evil about him, report it in the name of others. "From all this people." "No, my sons, for it is not good, etc." Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Abbahu said: An elder in whom something disgraceful is found is not brought down from his greatness; rather they say to him, "Be honored and sit in your house." As for a nasi (patriarch), what is the ruling? Rabbi Yochanan said: They remove him. Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak brings it (a proof) from here: "No, my sons, for it is not a good report that I hear" — "they remove the people of the Lord" — ("the people of the Lord") they restore him. Rabbi Chaggai said: Moses — they do not restore him, for he killed them. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: They even flog him. Rabbi Yehudah Nesi'ah heard and grew angry. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish fled and went out to Migdal Tzevo'aya. Rabbi Yochanan arose and did not come down to the study session. Rabbi Yehudah Nesi'ah arose with him and said to him: Why did you not come down to the study session? He said to him: A key has been placed in Migdal Tzevo'aya. He said to him: Were there no Shimon ben Lakish — no [matter]. He blew into his hand alone, and no sound went forth; he clapped with both of them, and their sound went forth. When Rabbi Yochanan heard this, he went out to his own province and read before him this verse: "whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, and to make for himself a name" (2 Samuel 7:23). He said to him: Enough for you — you resemble your Creator.