1 Samuel 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Samuel 3

The Lord Calls Samuel

3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

4 Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

6 And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God,¹ and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 3:13 Or blaspheming for themselves

Commentary

v1-3: Spiritual life was at a low ebb; there was no widespread revelation, and the lamp of God was about to go out (see Ex 27.20). This reflects Eli's poor vision, lack of spiritual character and, also, the state of Israel in general.

God raised up Samuel into this situation; often God raised up mighty men into difficult environments; e.g: Elijah and Elisha. Prophets would not be sent to an obedient people. Their role was to rebuke the disobedient people of God.

Samuel ministered to the Lord, 2.11, 18, 21, 26.

v4-7: It was God's initiative to call Samuel. Up to this point, Samuel did not know the Lord, although he had served in the tabernacle. We say that conversion is linked to revelation, as a person comes to meet and know God in Christ. This is a truly spiritual experience, as God and man meet.

v8-9: Eli slowly realised that it was God calling Samuel; this illustrates his lack of spiritual perception.

v10-14: The Lord's first message for Samuel was a hard one, a message of condemnation for Eli. Samuel was still young, and Eli had been his spiritual 'mentor'.

v15-18: At first, Samuel was reluctant to tell Eli what the Lord had said. Eli put some pressure on Samuel, using a particular form of words (v17; see also 25.22). Eli's response seems fatalistic; compare Hezekiah's words in 2 Kings 20.19. There appears little regret or repentance in him.

v19-21: Following this call, Samuel's ministry was effective. His words proved faithful, and doubtless the words for Eli would also prove true. He ministered throughout all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, that is from the most northerly city to the most southerly.