The child Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. Jehovah’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Jehovah’s temple where God’s ark was, 4Jehovah called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.”
5He 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.
6Jehovah 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.”
8Jehovah called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Jehovah; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”
11Jehovah said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end. 13For 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. 14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”
- 2Kg 21:12, Is 28:19, Is 29:14, Je 19:3, Am 3:6-7, Hb 1:5, Lk 21:26, Ac 13:41
- Nm 23:19, Jo 23:15, 1Sm 2:27-36, Zc 1:6, Lk 21:33
- 1Sm 2:12, 1Sm 2:17, 1Sm 2:22-36, 1Kg 1:6, 1Kg 2:44, 2Ch 20:12, Pr 19:18, Pr 23:13-14, Pr 29:15, Ec 7:22, Ez 7:3, Ez 18:30, Jl 3:12, Mt 10:37, 1Jn 3:20
- Lv 15:31, Nm 15:30-31, 1Sm 2:25, Ps 51:16, Is 22:14, Je 7:16, Je 15:1, Ez 24:13, Hb 10:4-10, Hb 10:26-31
15Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Jehovah’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.
16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”
17He said, “What is the thing that he 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.”
18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Jehovah. Let him do what seems good to him.”