| Decline of Eli’s Sons | Rise of Samuel |
|---|---|
| Wickedness of Eli’s sons (1 Sam. 2:12–17) | Samuel approved by Eli (1 Sam. 2:18–21) |
| Eli reproves his sons (1 Sam. 2:22–25) | Samuel grows in favor (1 Sam. 2:26) |
| Prophecy against Eli and sons (1 Sam. 2:27–36; cf. 4:11–18) | Samuel called and given prophetic word (1 Sam. 3:1–4:1a) |
| The Philistines; the ark and Eli’s house [defeat/capture/covenant defiled] (1 Sam. 4:1b–22) | The Philistines; the ark and Samuel [return/victory/covenant renewed] (1 Sam. 7:2–17) |