2:26 in favor with the Lord. The gravity of Eli’s sons’ refusal to listen to man or God is emphasized by the striking contrast with Samuel, who grows in favor with God and men. The emphasis on Samuel’s growth as more than merely physical foreshadows a theme that is later developed in contrasting portraits of Saul and David. The expression of v. 6 is used by Luke to describe the childhood of Jesus (Luke 2:52; see Prov. 3:4).