1 And 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.
2 And 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;
3 And 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;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And 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.
6 And 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.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And 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.
9 Therefore 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.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And 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.
12 In 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.
13 For 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.
14 And 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.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And 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.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
1 And the child H5288 Samuel H8050 ministered H8334 unto the LORD H3068 before H6440 Eli. H5941 And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 was precious H3368 in those days; H3117 there was no open H6555 vision. H2377
2 And it came to pass at that time, H3117 when Eli H5941 was laid down H7901 in his place, H4725 and his eyes H5869 began H2490 to wax dim, H3544 that he could H3201 not see; H7200
3 And ere the lamp H5216 of God H430 went out H3518 in the temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 where the ark H727 of God H430 was, and Samuel H8050 was laid down H7901 to sleep;
4 That the LORD H3068 called H7121 Samuel: H8050 and he answered, H559 Here am I.
5 And he ran H7323 unto Eli, H5941 and said, H559 Here am I; H2009 for thou calledst H7121 me. And he said, H559 I called H7121 not; lie down H7901 again. H7725 And he went H3212 and lay down. H7901
6 And the LORD H3068 called H7121 yet again, H3254 Samuel. H8050 And Samuel H8050 arose H6965 and went H3212 to Eli, H5941 and said, H559 Here am I; for thou didst call H7121 me. And he answered, H559 I called H7121 not, my son; H1121 lie down H7901 again. H7725
7 Now Samuel H8050 did not yet H2962 know H3045 the LORD, H3068 neither was the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 yet revealed H1540 unto him.
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
9 Therefore Eli H5941 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 Go, H3212 lie down: H7901 and it shall be, if he call H7121 thee, that thou shalt say, H559 Speak, H1696 LORD; H3068 for thy servant H5650 heareth. H8085 So Samuel H8050 went H3212 and lay down H7901 in his place. H4725
10 And the LORD H3068 came, H935 and stood, H3320 and called H7121 as at other times, H6471 Samuel, H8050 Samuel. H8050 Then Samuel H8050 answered, H559 Speak; H1696 for thy servant H5650 heareth. H8085
11 And the LORD H3068 said H559 to Samuel, H8050 Behold, I will do H6213 a thing H1697 in Israel, H3478 at which both H8147 the ears H241 of every one that heareth H8085 it shall tingle. H6750
12 In that day H3117 I will perform H6965 against Eli H5941 all things which I have spoken H1696 concerning H413 his house: H1004 when I begin, H2490 I will also make an end. H3615
13 For I have told H5046 him that I will judge H8199 his house H1004 for H5704 ever H5769 for the iniquity H5771 which he knoweth; H3045 because his sons H1121 made themselves vile, H7043 and he restrained H3543 them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn H7650 unto the house H1004 of Eli, H5941 that the iniquity H5771 of Eli's H5941 house H1004 shall not be purged H3722 with sacrifice H2077 nor offering H4503 for H5704 ever. H5769
15 And Samuel H8050 lay H7901 until the morning, H1242 and opened H6605 the doors H1817 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And Samuel H8050 feared H3372 to shew H5046 Eli H5941 the vision. H4759
16 Then Eli H5941 called H7121 Samuel, H8050 and said, H559 Samuel, H8050 my son. H1121 And he answered, H559 Here am I.
17 And he said, H559 What is the thing H1697 that the LORD hath said H1696 unto thee? I pray thee hide H3582 it not from me: God H430 do so H6213 to thee, and more also, H3254 if thou hide H3582 any thing H1697 from me of all the things H1697 that he said H1696 unto thee.
18 And Samuel H8050 told H5046 him every whit, H1697 and hid H3582 nothing from him. And he said, H559 It is the LORD: H3068 let him do H6213 what seemeth H5869 him good. H2896
19 And Samuel H8050 grew, H1431 and the LORD H3068 was with him, and did let none of his words H1697 fall H5307 to the ground. H776
20 And all Israel H3478 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba H884 knew H3045 that Samuel H8050 was established H539 to be a prophet H5030 of the LORD. H3068
21 And the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 again H3254 in Shiloh: H7887 for the LORD H3068 revealed H1540 himself to Samuel H8050 in Shiloh H7887 by the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see),
3 and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down `to sleep', in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was;
4 that Jehovah called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.
5 And 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.
6 And Jehovah called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed unto him.
8 And Jehovah called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that `Jehovah' hath spoken unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he spake unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is Jehovah: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah.
21 And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.
1 And the youth Samuel is serving Jehovah before Eli, and the word of Jehovah hath been precious in those days -- there is no vision broken forth.
2 And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Eli is lying down in his place, and his eyes have begun to be dim -- he is not able to see.
3 And the lamp of God is not yet extinguished, and Samuel is lying down in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God `is',
4 and Jehovah calleth unto Samuel, and he saith, `Here `am' I.'
5 And he runneth unto Eli, and saith, `Here `am' I, for thou hast called for me;' and he saith, `I called not; turn back, lie down;' and he goeth and lieth down.
6 And Jehovah addeth to call again Samuel, and Samuel riseth and goeth unto Eli, and saith, `Here `am' I, for thou hast called for me;' and he saith, `I have not called, my son, turn back, lie down.'
7 And Samuel hath not yet known Jehovah, and the word of Jehovah is not yet revealed unto him.
8 And Jehovah addeth to call Samuel the third time, and he riseth and goeth unto Eli, and saith, `Here `am' I, for thou hast called for me;' and Eli understandeth that Jehovah is calling to the youth.
9 And Eli saith to Samuel, `Go, lie down, and it hath been, if He doth call unto thee, that thou hast said, Speak, Jehovah, for Thy servant is hearing;' and Samuel goeth and lieth down in his place.
10 And Jehovah cometh, and stationeth Himself, and calleth as time by time, `Samuel, Samuel;' and Samuel saith, `Speak, for Thy servant if hearing.'
11 And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Lo, I am doing a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one hearing it do tingle.
12 In that day I establish unto Eli all that I have spoken unto his house, beginning and completing;
13 and I have declared to him that I am judging his house -- to the age, for the iniquity which he hath known, for his sons are making themselves vile, and he hath not restrained them,
14 and therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli: the iniquity of the house of Eli is not atoned for, by sacrifice, and by offering -- unto the age.'
15 And Samuel lieth till the morning, and openeth the doors of the house of Jehovah, and Samuel is afraid of declaring the vision unto Eli.
16 And Eli calleth Samuel, and saith, `Samuel, my son;' and he saith, `Here `am' I.'
17 And he saith, `What `is' the word which He hath spoken unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me; so doth God do to thee, and so doth He add, if thou hidest from me a word of all the words that He hath spoken unto thee.'
18 And Samuel declareth to him the whole of the words, and hath not hid from him; and he saith, `It `is' Jehovah; that which is good in His eyes He doth.'
19 And Samuel groweth up, and Jehovah hath been with him, and hath not let fall any of his words to the earth;
20 and all Israel know, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, that Samuel is established for a prophet to Jehovah.
21 And Jehovah addeth to appear in Shiloh, for Jehovah hath been revealed unto Samuel, in Shiloh, by the word of Jehovah.
1 And the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; a vision was not frequent.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli lay in his place (now his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see),
3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel lay in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was,
4 that Jehovah called to Samuel. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call: lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And Jehovah called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I did not call, my son: lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither had the word of Jehovah yet been revealed to him.
8 And Jehovah called again the third time, Samuel! And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah was calling the boy.
9 And Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at the other times, Samuel, Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for thy servant heareth.
11 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house; I will begin and make an end.
13 For I have declared to him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he hath known: because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice or oblation for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to declare the vision to Eli.
16 And Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the word that he has spoken to thee? I pray thee, keep it not back from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou keep back anything from me of all the word that he spoke to thee.
18 And Samuel told him all the words, and kept nothing back from him. And he said, It is Jehovah: let him do what is good in his sight.
19 And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah.
21 And Jehovah appeared again at Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.
1 The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
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),
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;
4 that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.
5 He ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He said, I didn't call; lie down again. He went and lay down.
6 Yahweh called yet again, Samuel. Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He answered, I didn't call, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel didn't yet know Yahweh, neither was the word of Yahweh yet revealed to him.
8 Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for your servant hears.
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.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them.
14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering forever.
15 Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. He said, Here am I.
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."
18 Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. He said, It is Yahweh: let him do what seems him good.
19 Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.
21 Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.
1 Now the young Samuel was the servant of the Lord before Eli. In those days the Lord kept his word secret from men; there was no open vision.
2 And at that time, when Eli was resting in his place, (now his eyes were becoming clouded so that he was not able to see,)
3 And the light of God was still burning, while Samuel was sleeping in the Temple of the Lord where the ark of God was,
4 The voice of the Lord said Samuel's name; and he said, Here am I.
5 And running to Eli he said, Here am I, for you said my name. And Eli said, I did not say your name; go to your rest again. So he went back to his bed.
6 And again the Lord said, Samuel. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. But he said in answer, I said nothing, my son; go to your rest again.
7 Now at that time Samuel had no knowledge of the Lord, and the revelation of the word of the Lord had not come to him.
8 And for the third time the Lord said Samuel's name. And he got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. Then it was clear to Eli that the voice which had said the child's name was the Lord's.
9 So Eli said to Samuel, Go back: and if the voice comes again, let your answer be, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open. So Samuel went back to his bed.
10 Then the Lord came and said as before, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel made answer, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open.
11 And the Lord said to Samuel, See, I will do a thing in Israel at which the ears of everyone hearing of it will be burning.
12 In that day I will do to Eli everything which I have said about his family, from first to last.
13 And you are to say to him that I will send punishment on his family for ever, for the sin which he had knowledge of; because his sons have been cursing God and he had no control over them.
14 So I have made an oath to the family of Eli that no offering of meat or of meal which they may make will ever take away the sin of his family.
15 And Samuel kept where he was, not moving till the time came for opening the doors of the house of God in the morning. And fear kept him from giving Eli an account of his vision.
16 Then Eli said, Samuel, my son. And Samuel answering said, Here am I.
17 And he said, What did the Lord say to you? Do not keep it from me: may God's punishment be on you if you keep from me anything he said to you.
18 Then Samuel gave him an account of everything, keeping nothing back. And he said, It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.
19 And Samuel became older, and the Lord was with him and let not one of his words be without effect.
20 And it was clear to all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba that Samuel had been made a prophet of the Lord.
21 And the Lord was seen again in Shiloh; for the Lord gave to Samuel in Shiloh the revelation of his word.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 3
Commentary on 1 Samuel 3 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
At the time when Samuel served the Lord before Eli, both as a boy and as a young man (1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Samuel 2:21, 1 Samuel 2:26), the word of the Lord had become dear , i.e., rare, in Israel, and “ Prophecy was not spread .” נפרץ , from פּרץ , to spread out strongly, to break through copiously (cf. Proverbs 3:10). The “ word of the Lord ” is the word of God announced by prophets: the “ vision ,” “ visio prophetica .” It is true that Jehovah had promised His people, that He would send prophets, who should make known His will and purpose at all times (Deuteronomy 18:15.; cf. Numbers 23:23); but as a revelation from God presupposed susceptibility on the part of men, the unbelief and disobedience of the people might restrain the fulfilment of this and all similar promises, and God might even withdraw His word to punish the idolatrous nation. Such a time as this, when revelations from God were universally rare, and had now arisen under Eli, in whose days, as the conduct of his sons sufficiently proves, the priesthood had fallen into very deep corruption.
1 Samuel 3:2-4
The word of the Lord was then issued for the first time to Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:2-4 form one period. The clause, “ it came to pass at that time ” ( 1 Samuel 3:2 ), is continued in 1 Samuel 3:4 , “ that the Lord called ,” etc. The intervening clauses from ועלי to אלהים ארון are circumstantial clauses, intended to throw light upon the situation. The clause, “ Eli was laid down in his place ,” etc., may be connected logically with “ at that time ” by the insertion of “ when ” (as in the English version: Tr.). The dimness of Eli's eyes is mentioned, to explain Samuel's behaviour, as afterwards described. Under these circumstances, for example, when Samuel heard his own name called out in sleep, he might easily suppose that Eli was calling him to render some assistance. The “ lamp of God ” is the light of the candlestick in the tabernacle, the seven lamps of which were put up and lighted every evening, and burned through the night till all the oil was consumed (see Exodus 30:8; Leviticus 24:2; 2 Chronicles 13:11, and the explanation given at Exodus 27:21). The statement that this light was not yet extinguished, is equivalent to “before the morning dawn.” “ And Samuel was lying (sleeping) in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was .” היכל does not mean the holy place, as distinguished from the “most holy,” as in 1 Kings 6:5; 1 Kings 7:50,
(Note: The Masoretes have taken היכל in this sense, and therefore have placed the Athnach under שׁכב rednu , to separate שׁכב וּשׁמוּאל from יי בּהיכל , and thus to guard against the conclusion, which might be drawn from this view of היכל that Samuel slept in the holy place.)
but the whole tabernacle, the tent with its court, as the palace of the God-king, as in 1 Samuel 1:9; Psalms 11:4. Samuel neither slept in the holy place by the side of the candlestick and table of shew-bread, nor in the most holy place in front of the ark of the covenant, but in the court, where cells were built for the priests and Levites to live in when serving at the sanctuary (see at 1 Samuel 3:15). “ The ark of God , i.e., the ark of the covenant, is mentioned as the throne of the divine presence, from which the call to Samuel proceeded.
1 Samuel 3:5-9
As soon as Samuel heard his name called out, he hastened to Eli to receive his commands. But Eli bade him lie down again, as he had not called him. At first, no doubt, he thought the call which Samuel had heard was nothing more than a false impression of the youth, who had been fast asleep. But the same thing was repeated a second and a third time; for, as the historian explains in 1 Samuel 3:6, “ Samuel had not yet known Jehovah, and (for) the word of Jehovah was not yet revealed to him .” (The perfect ידע after טרם , though very rare, is fully supported by Psalms 90:2 and Proverbs 8:25, and therefore is not to be altered into ידע , as Dietrich and Böttcher propose.) He therefore imagined again that Eli had called him. But when he came to Eli after the third call, Eli perceived that the Lord was calling, and directed Samuel, if the call were repeated, to answer, “ Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth .”
When Samuel had lain down again, “ Jehovah came and stood ,” sc., before Samuel. These words show that the revelation of God was an objectively real affair, and not a mere dream of Samuel's. “ And he called to him as at other times ” (see Numbers 24:1; Judges 16:20), etc.). When Samuel replied in accordance with Eli's instructions, the Lord announced to him that He would carry out the judgment that had been threatened against the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3:11-14). “ Behold, I do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle ,” sc., with horror (see 2 Kings 21:12; Jeremiah 19:3; Habakkuk 1:5).
On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house (see 1 Samuel 2:30.), beginning and finishing it ,” i.e., completely. דּבּר את־אשׁר הקים , to set up the word spoken, i.e., to carry it out, or accomplish it. In 1 Samuel 3:13 this word is communicated to Samuel, so far as its essential contents are concerned. God would judge “ the house of Eli for ever because of the iniquity, that he knew his sons were preparing a curse for themselves and did not prevent them .” To judge on account of a crime, is the same as to punish it. עד־עולם , i.e., without the punishment being ever stopped or removed. להם מקללים , cursing themselves, i.e., bringing a curse upon themselves. “ Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not ( אם , a particle used in an oath, equivalent to assuredly not) be expiated by slain-offerings and meat-offerings (through any kind of sacrifice) for ever .” The oath makes the sentence irrevocable. (On the facts themselves, see the commentary on 1 Samuel 2:27-36.)
Samuel then slept till the morning; and when he opened the doors of the house of Jehovah, he was afraid to tell Eli of the revelation which he had received. Opening the doors of the house of God appears to have been part of Samuel's duty. We have not to think of doors opening into the holy place, however, but of doors leading into the court. Originally, when the tabernacle was simply a tent, travelling with the people from place to place, it had only curtains at the entrance to the holy place and court. But when Israel had become possessed of fixed houses in the land of Canaan, and the dwelling-place of God was permanently erected at Shiloh, instead of the tents that were pitched for the priests and Levites, who encamped round about during the journey through the desert, there were erected fixed houses, which were built against or inside the court, and not only served as dwelling-places for the priests and Levites who were officiating, but were also used for the reception and custody of the gifts that were brought as offerings to the sanctuary. These buildings in all probability supplanted entirely the original tent-like enclosure around the court; so that instead of the curtains at the entrance, there were folding doors, which were shut in the evening and opened again in the morning. It is true that nothing is said about the erection of these buildings in our historical books, but the fact itself is not to be denied on that account. In the case of Solomon's temple, notwithstanding the elaborate description that has been given of it, there is nothing said about the arrangement or erection of the buildings in the court; and yet here and there, principally in Jeremiah, the existence of such buildings is evidently assumed. מראה , visio , a sign or vision. This expression is applied to the word of God which came to Samuel, because it was revealed to him through the medium of an inward sight or intuition.
When Samuel was called by Eli and asked concerning the divine revelation that he had received, he told him all the words, without concealing anything; whereupon Eli bowed in quiet resignation to the purpose of God: “ It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good .” Samuel's communication, however, simply confirmed to the aged Eli what God had already made known to him through a prophet, But his reply proves that, with all his weakness and criminal indulgence towards his wicked sons, Eli was thoroughly devoted to the Lord in his heart. And Samuel, on the other hand, through his unreserved and candid communication of the terribly solemn word of God with regard to the man, whom he certainly venerated with filial affection, not only as high priest, but also as his own parental guardian, proved himself to be a man possessing the courage and the power to proclaim the word of the Lord without fear to the people of Israel.
Thus Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground, i.e., left no word unfulfilled which He spoke through Samuel. (On הפּיל , see Joshua 21:45; Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56.) By this all Israel from Dan to Beersheba (see at Judges 20:1) perceived that Samuel was found trustworthy, or approved (see Numbers 12:7) as a prophet of Jehovah. And the Lord continued to appear at Shiloh; for He revealed himself there to Samuel “ in the word of Jehovah ,” i.e., through a prophetic announcement of His word. These three verses form the transition from the call of Samuel to the following account of his prophetic labours in Israel. At the close of 1 Samuel 3:21, the lxx have appended a general remark concerning Eli and his sons, which, regarded as a deduction from the context, answers no doubt to the paraphrastic treatment of our book in that version, but in a critical aspect is utterly worthless.