1 Samuel 3:1-2

The Prophetic Call to Samuel

1 Now ¹the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And ²word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent *.

2 It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now ³his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),

1 Samuel 3:1-2 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. 1 Samuel 2:11, 18
• 2. Psalms 74:9; Ezekiel 7:26; Amos 8:11, 12
• 3. Genesis 27:1; Genesis 48:10; 1 Samuel 4:15

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "no vision spread abroad"