1st Samuel Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.

• (a) The Chaldee text reads "while Eli lived".
• (b) Because there were very few prophets to declare it.

3:2 It happened at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

• (c) In the court next to the tabernacle.

3:3 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down [to sleep], in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was;

• (d) That is, the lamps which burnt in the night.

3:4 that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am."

• (e) Josephus writes that Samuel was 12 years old when the Lord appeared to him.

3:5 He ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." He said, "I didn't call; lie down again." He went and lay down.

3:6 Yahweh called yet again, "Samuel!" Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." He answered, "I didn't call, my son; lie down again."

3:7 Now Samuel didn't yet know Yahweh, neither was the word of Yahweh yet revealed to him.

• (f) By vision.

3:8 Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.

• (g) Such was the corruption of those times that the chief priest had become dull and negligent to understand the Lord’s appearing.

3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

3:10 Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."

3:11 Yahweh said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.

• (h) God declares that sudden fear will come on men when they hear that the ark is taken, and see Eli’s house destroyed.

3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them.

3:14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice nor offering forever."

• (i) Meaning that his posterity would never enjoy the chief priests office.

3:15 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son!" He said, "Here I am."

3:17 He said, "What is the thing that [Yahweh] has spoken to you? Please don't hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you."

• (k) God punish you after this and that sort, unless you tell me the truth, (Ruth 1:17).

3:18 Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, "It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him."

3:19 Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.

• (l) The Lord accomplished whatever he had said.

3:20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.

3:21 Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.