Samuel's sons do not follow in their father's steps.
We have seen this problem of the "next generation" before. Eli's sons had become like Canaanite priests – treating the women who served at the tent like prostitutes. Now Samuel's sons become like Canaanite judges – taking bribes and perverting justice.
The prophet Jeremiah would say generations later: "Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)
What does he mean by "the ancient paths"? In the following chapter, Jeremiah warns against thinking of the temple as a magical talisman: "Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'this is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD' (in other words – the same magical thinking as in 1 Samuel 4 – when they thought that the ark would save them...)
And yes, Jeremiah is referring to 1 Samuel 4, as he makes clear in Jer 7:11-12 – "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD. Go now to my place at Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel..."
The ancient paths are the ways – the word – and the Law – of the LORD...
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