1 Samuel 3:10-20

10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."
11 The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, 1I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
12 "In that day 2I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
13 "For 3I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever * for 4the iniquity which he knew, because 5his sons brought a curse on themselves and 6he did not rebuke them.
14 "Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that 7the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever *."
15 So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he 8opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell 9the vision to Eli.
16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am."
17 He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. 10May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you."
18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "11It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him."
19 Thus 12Samuel grew and 13the LORD was with him and 14let none * of his words fail *.
20 All Israel 15from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

1 Samuel 3:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 3

This chapter gives an account of the Lord's calling to Samuel in the night season, which he first took for the voice of Eli, but being instructed by him, made answer to the voice, 1Sa 3:1-10, and of a message sent from him by Samuel to Eli, foretelling the destruction of his family, 1Sa 3:11-14 and of the delivery of it to him, which Samuel was first fearful of doing, but, encouraged by Eli, he delivered it to him, to which he patiently submitted, 1Sa 3:15-18 and the chapter is closed with the establishment of Samuel as a prophet of the Lord, who continued to appear and reveal himself to him, 1Sa 3:19-21.

Cross References 15

  • 1. 2 Kings 21:12; Jeremiah 19:3
  • 2. 1 Samuel 2:27-36
  • 3. 1 Samuel 2:29-31
  • 4. 1 Samuel 2:22
  • 5. 1 Sam 2:12, 17, 22
  • 6. Deuteronomy 17:12; Deuteronomy 21:18
  • 7. Leviticus 15:31; Isaiah 22:14
  • 8. 1 Chronicles 15:23
  • 9. 1 Samuel 3:10
  • 10. 2 Samuel 3:35
  • 11. Exodus 34:5-7; Leviticus 10:3; Job 2:10; Isaiah 39:8
  • 12. 1 Samuel 2:21
  • 13. Genesis 21:22; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 39:2
  • 14. 1 Samuel 9:6
  • 15. Judges 20:1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "fall to the ground"
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