1 Samuel 3:11-18

11 And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.

12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end.

13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,^[a] and he failed to restrain them.

14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.”

18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

1 Samuel 3:11-18 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

• 1. 2 Kings 21:12; Job 15:21; Jeremiah 19:3
• 2. S 1 Samuel 2:27-36
• 3. 1 Kings 1:6; 1Sa 2:12,17,22,29-31
• 4. Leviticus 15:30-31; S 1 Samuel 2:25; Isaiah 22:14
• 5. 1 Kings 22:14; Jeremiah 23:28; Jeremiah 38:14; Jeremiah 42:4
• 6. S Ruth 1:17; 2 Samuel 3:35
• 7. S Judges 10:15; Job 2:10; Isaiah 39:8

Footnotes

• [a] An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text "sons made themselves contemptible"