1 Samuel 2:20,21

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife.... And the Lord visited Hannah. — The blessing of Eli, a blessing which soon bore its fruit in the house of the pious couple, — his training of Samuel, and unswerving kindness to the boy (see following chapter), — his sorrow at his priestly sons’ wickedness, — his passionate love for his country, all indicate that the influence of the weak but loving high priest was ever exerted to keep the faith of the people pure, and the life of Israel white before the Lord. There were evidently two parties at Shiloh, the head-quarters of the national religion: the reckless, unbelieving section, headed by Hophni and Phinehas; and the God-fearing, law-loving partisans of the old Divine law, under the influence of the weak, but religious, Eli. These latter kept the lamp of the loved faith burning — though but dimly — among the covenant people until the days when the strong hand of Samuel took the helm of government in Israel.