1 Samuel 3:9

9 Therefore `Eli said to Shemu'el, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, the LORD; for your servant hears. So Shemu'el went and lay down in his place.

1 Samuel 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 3:9

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, go, lie down
Once more;

and it shall be, if he call thee;
the voice, or the Lord by it:

that thou shalt say, speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth;
his meaning is, that he should not rise and come to him, as he had done, but continue on his bed, on hearing the voice again, but desire the Lord to speak to him what he had to say, to which he was ready to attend:

so Samuel went and lay down in his place;
which, as commonly understood, was in the court of the Levites, (See Gill on 1 Samuel 3:3).

1 Samuel 3:9 In-Context

7 Now Shemu'el didn't yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.

8 The LORD called Shemu'el again the third time. He arose and went to `Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. `Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 Therefore `Eli said to Shemu'el, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, the LORD; for your servant hears. So Shemu'el went and lay down in his place.

10 The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Shemu'el, Shemu'el. Then Shemu'el said, Speak; for your servant hears.

11 The LORD said to Shemu'el, Behold, I will do a thing in Yisra'el, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.