1 Samuel 3

1 puer autem Samuhel ministrabat Domino coram Heli et sermo Domini erat pretiosus in diebus illis non erat visio manifesta

2 factum est ergo in die quadam Heli iacebat in loco suo et oculi eius caligaverant nec poterat videre

3 lucerna Dei antequam extingueretur Samuhel autem dormiebat in templo Domini ubi erat arca Dei

4 et vocavit Dominus Samuhel qui respondens ait ecce ego

5 et cucurrit ad Heli et dixit ecce ego vocasti enim me qui dixit non vocavi revertere dormi et abiit et dormivit

6 et adiecit Dominus vocare rursum Samuhel consurgensque Samuhel abiit ad Heli et dixit ecce ego quia vocasti me qui respondit non vocavi te fili mi revertere et dormi

7 porro Samuhel necdum sciebat Dominum neque revelatus fuerat ei sermo Domini

8 et adiecit Dominus et vocavit adhuc Samuhel tertio qui consurgens abiit ad Heli

9 et ait ecce ego quia vocasti me intellexit igitur Heli quia Dominus vocaret puerum et ait ad Samuhel vade et dormi et si deinceps vocaverit te dices loquere Domine quia audit servus tuus abiit ergo Samuhel et dormivit in loco suo

10 et venit Dominus et stetit et vocavit sicut vocaverat secundo Samuhel Samuhel et ait Samuhel loquere quia audit servus tuus

11 et dixit Dominus ad Samuhel ecce ego facio verbum in Israhel quod quicumque audierit tinnient ambae aures eius

12 in die illo suscitabo adversum Heli omnia quae locutus sum super domum eius incipiam et conplebo

13 praedixi enim ei quod iudicaturus essem domum eius in aeternum propter iniquitatem eo quod noverat indigne agere filios suos et non corripuit eos

14 idcirco iuravi domui Heli quod non expietur iniquitas domus eius victimis et muneribus usque in aeternum

15 dormivit autem Samuhel usque mane aperuitque ostia domus Domini et Samuhel timebat indicare visionem Heli

16 vocavit ergo Heli Samuhelem et dixit Samuhel fili mi qui respondens ait praesto sum

17 et interrogavit eum quis est sermo quem locutus est ad te oro te ne celaveris me haec faciat tibi Deus et haec addat si absconderis a me sermonem ex omnibus verbis quae dicta sunt tibi

18 indicavit itaque ei Samuhel universos sermones et non abscondit ab eo et ille respondit Dominus est quod bonum est in oculis suis faciat

19 crevit autem Samuhel et Dominus erat cum eo et non cecidit ex omnibus verbis eius in terram

20 et cognovit universus Israhel a Dan usque Bersabee quod fidelis Samuhel propheta esset Domini

21 et addidit Dominus ut appareret in Silo quoniam revelatus fuerat Dominus Samuheli in Silo iuxta verbum Domini et evenit sermo Samuhelis universo Israheli

1 Samuel 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The word of the Lord first revealed to Samuel. (1-10) God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house. (11-18) Samuel established to be a prophet. (19-21)

Verses 1-10 The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to the call. Eli, perceiving that it was the voice of God that Samuel heard, instructed him what to say. Though it was a disgrace to Eli, for God's call to be directed to Samuel, yet he told him how to meet it. Thus the elder should do their utmost to assist and improve the younger that are rising up. Let us never fail to teach those who are coming after us, even such as will soon be preferred before us, ( John 1:30 ) . Good words should be put into children's mouths betimes, by which they may be prepared to learn Divine things, and be trained up to regard them.

Verses 11-18 What a great deal of guilt and corruption is there in us, concerning which we may say, It is the iniquity which our own heart knoweth; we are conscious to ourselves of it! Those who do not restrain the sins of others, when it is in their power to do it, make themselves partakers of the guilt, and will be charged as joining in it. In his remarkable answer to this awful sentence, Eli acknowledged that the Lord had a right to do as he saw good, being assured that he would do nothing wrong. The meekness, patience, and humility contained in those words, show that he was truly repentant; he accepted the punishment of his sin.

Verses 19-21 All increase in wisdom and grace, is owing to the presence of God with us. God will graciously repeat his visits to those who receive them aright. Early piety will be the greatest honour of young people. Those who honour God he will honour. Let young people consider the piety of Samuel, and from him they will learn to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. Young children are capable of religion. Samuel is a proof that their waiting upon the Lord will be pleasing to him. He is a pattern of all those amiable tempers, which are the brightest ornament of youth, and a sure source of happiness.

Chapter Summary

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.