|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)|