The constant comparison/contrast with Eli’s sons and Samuel helps to organize and bind this unit together from a literary standpoint. By structuring the material in this manner, the unit contains an element of symmetry so that the three negative statements about Eli’s sons are counterbalanced by three positive remarks concerning Samuel. 1a. Eli’s Sons: manipulated the sacrificial process (2:12–17) 1b. Samuel: grew in the presence of Yahweh (2:21b) 2a. Eli’s sons: had sex with/raped the women at the