The man said to Eli, I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. He said, How went the matter, my son?
and he said, what is there done, my son? has a battle been fought? on which side is the victory? is Israel beaten, or have they conquered? how do things go? he uses the kind and tender appellation, my son, to engage him to tell him all freely and openly.