8 And the LORD H3068 called H7121 Samuel H8050 again H3254 the third time. H7992 And he arose H6965 and went H3212 to Eli, H5941 and said, H559 Here am I; for thou didst call H7121 me. And Eli H5941 perceived H995 that the LORD H3068 had called H7121 the child. H5288
For God H410 speaketh H1696 once, H259 yea twice, H8147 yet man perceiveth H7789 it not. In a dream, H2472 in a vision H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep H8639 sleep falleth H5307 upon men, H582 in slumberings H8572 upon the bed; H4904
When G3753 I was G2252 a child, G3516 I spake G2980 as G5613 a child, G3516 I understood G5426 as G5613 a child, G3516 I thought G3049 as G5613 a child: G3516 but G1161 when G3753 I became G1096 a man, G435 I put away G2673 childish things. G3516 For G1063 now G737 we see G991 through G1223 a glass, G2072 darkly; G1722 G135 but G1161 then G5119 face G4383 to G4314 face: G4383 now G737 I know G1097 in G1537 part; G3313 but G1161 then G5119 shall I know G1921 even as G2531 also G2532 I am known. G1921
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 3
Commentary on 1 Samuel 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
1Sa 3:1-10. The Lord Appears to Samuel in a Vision.
1. the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli—His ministry consisted, of course, of such duties in or about the sanctuary as were suited to his age, which is supposed now to have been about twelve years. Whether the office had been specially assigned him, or it arose from the interest inspired by the story of his birth, Eli kept him as his immediate attendant; and he resided not in the sanctuary, but in one of the tents or apartments around it, assigned for the accommodation of the priests and Levites, his being near to that of the high priest.
the word of the Lord was precious in those days—It was very rarely known to the Israelites; and in point of fact only two prophets are mentioned as having appeared during the whole administration of the judges (Jud 4:4; 6:8).
there was no open vision—no publicly recognized prophet whom the people could consult, and from whom they might learn the will of God. There must have been certain indubitable evidences by which a communication from heaven could be distinguished. Eli knew them, for he may have received them, though not so frequently as is implied in the idea of an "open vision."
3. ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord—The "temple" seems to have become the established designation of the tabernacle, and the time indicated was towards the morning twilight, as the lamps were extinguished at sunrise (see Le 6:12, 13).
5-18. he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me—It is evident that his sleeping chamber was close to that of the aged high priest and that he was accustomed to be called during the night. The three successive calls addressed to the boy convinced Eli of the divine character of the speaker, and he therefore exhorted the child to give a reverential attention to the message. The burden of [the Lord's message] was an extraordinary premonition of the judgments that impended over Eli's house; and the aged priest, having drawn the painful secret from the child, exclaimed, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good." Such is the spirit of meek and unmurmuring submission in which we ought to receive the dispensations of God, however severe and afflictive. But, in order to form a right estimate of Eli's language and conduct on this occasion, we must consider the overwhelming accumulation of judgments denounced against his person, his sons, his descendants—his altar, and nation. With such a threatening prospect before him, his piety and meekness were wonderful. In his personal character he seems to have been a good man, but his sons' conduct was flagrantly bad; and though his misfortunes claim our sympathy, it is impossible to approve or defend the weak and unfaithful course which, in the retributive justice of God, brought these adversities upon him.