Samuel’s Calling: The calling of Samuel follows the revoking of the calling of Eli’s family. This reinforces the impression that whatever other successors there may be (Zadok, Jesus Christ), the writers intend Samuel to be viewed as in some sense a replacement for Eli’s sons. Eli is pictured in this chapter and earlier (2:18–21) as graciously mentoring the gifted young Samuel, grooming him for a task that he must have wished could have been carried on by his own family. It seems probable that the writers intended to provide a contrast to the later picture of Saul as he, with ungracious resentment, sought to prevent the gifted young David from replacing his own family.

3:1 An editorial comment precedes the next part of the story. The lack of visions and the mention of the fact that in those …