1 Samuel 3:8-18

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said , Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go , lie down : and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say , Speak , LORD; for thy servant heareth . So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came , and stood , and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered , Speak ; for thy servant heareth .

11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle .

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin , I will also make an end .

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth ; because his sons made themselves vile , and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said , Samuel, my son. And he answered , Here am I.

17 And he said , What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also , if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said , It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

1 Samuel 3:8-18 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. more also: so add