The Histories · Old Testament
1 Samuel 3
Samuel hears the Lord's call
General context
When revelation is rare, Samuel hears his name and repeatedly runs to Eli. Eli eventually recognizes that the Lord is calling and tells him how to answer. The message concerns judgment on Eli's house for the sons' wrongdoing and Eli's failure to restrain them. Samuel fears reporting it but tells Eli everything. As Samuel grows, Israel recognizes him as a prophet of the Lord.
Cited passages: 1 Samuel 3:1, 1 Samuel 3:2, 1 Samuel 3:3, 1 Samuel 3:4, 1 Samuel 3:5, 1 Samuel 3:6, 1 Samuel 3:7, 1 Samuel 3:8, 1 Samuel 3:9, 1 Samuel 3:10, 1 Samuel 3:11, 1 Samuel 3:12, 1 Samuel 3:13, 1 Samuel 3:14, 1 Samuel 3:15, 1 Samuel 3:16, 1 Samuel 3:17, 1 Samuel 3:18, 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 3:20, 1 Samuel 3:21
1 Samuel 3 (KJV)
1And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8And 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.
9Therefore 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.
10And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11And 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.
12In 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.
13For 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.
14And 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.
15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17And 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.
18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
21And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.
Historical context
The scene takes place where Samuel ministers under Eli at Shiloh, near the ark and before the lamp of God has gone out. Eli's sight is failing. Samuel has not yet received the Lord's word in the manner now described. Recognition of his prophetic calling extends from Dan to Beersheba.
Cited passages: 1 Samuel 3:1, 1 Samuel 3:2, 1 Samuel 3:3, 1 Samuel 3:4, 1 Samuel 3:5, 1 Samuel 3:6, 1 Samuel 3:7, 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 3:20, 1 Samuel 3:21
Literary context
Repeated calls slow the scene while Samuel and Eli learn who is speaking. The boy repeatedly goes to Eli, then receives a message he is afraid to tell him. Eli helps Samuel hear the word that judges Eli's own house. The rare word at the opening becomes a continuing revelation at Shiloh in the closing verses.
Cited passages: 1 Samuel 3:1, 1 Samuel 3:2, 1 Samuel 3:3, 1 Samuel 3:4, 1 Samuel 3:5, 1 Samuel 3:6, 1 Samuel 3:7, 1 Samuel 3:8, 1 Samuel 3:9, 1 Samuel 3:10, 1 Samuel 3:11, 1 Samuel 3:12, 1 Samuel 3:13, 1 Samuel 3:14, 1 Samuel 3:15, 1 Samuel 3:16, 1 Samuel 3:17, 1 Samuel 3:18, 1 Samuel 3:21
Key moments
- A word seldom heard (1 Samuel 3:1). The chapter opens by describing revelation as rare.
- Eli recognizes the caller (1 Samuel 3:8). After the third call, Eli understands that the Lord is calling Samuel.
- Samuel listens (1 Samuel 3:10). Samuel answers the renewed call as a servant ready to hear.
- The whole message delivered (1 Samuel 3:18). Samuel conceals nothing when Eli asks what the Lord said.
- A prophet recognized (1 Samuel 3:20). Israel recognizes Samuel as established as a prophet of the Lord.
For reflection
What makes it difficult to receive an unwelcome truth from someone younger or less established? Consider both Samuel's fear and Eli's insistence that he speak.
