1The manner in which the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel. 11God sheweth to Samuel the destruction of Eli's house. 15Samuel, commanded by Eli telleth him the vision. 19Samuel is favoured by God, and acknowledged for a prophet in Israel.
1AND the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD 1before Eli. And the word of the LORD was 2precious in those days; there was no 3open vision.
1 See 1 Sam. 2:11.
2 Intimating, that at that time there were but few prophets or faithful teachers in Israel: so that, when there came a man of God, it was a most rare thing.
3 Hebr. broken through, broken out. Other, manifold.
2And it came to pass 4at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and hisa eyes began to wax dim, that he could not 5see;
4 Namely, when the word of the Lord was so precious.
a 1 Sam. 4:15.
5 That is, not very well. In Gen. 48:10 it is said of Jacob, that he did not see; that is, he did not see very well; for in verse 8 it is said, that he saw the sons of Joseph.
3And ere 6the lamp of God went out in 7the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
6 He speaks of the lamp that stood on the golden candlestick, which was to burn all night long from the evening until the morning, and then it was snuffed out, Exod. 27:21; Lev. 24:3; 2 Chron. 13:11.
7 That is, in one of the rooms or chambers near or about the tabernacle, for the temple was not yet built at this time.
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.
78Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 That is, he did not know the calling voice of the Lord, as being not accustomed to hear it. Or, he had as yet no apprehension of such kind of revelations, whereby the Lord, by communication, did appear unto men.
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 9his place.
9 See on verse 2.
10And the LORD came, 10and stood, and called 11as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
10 Other, and he continued standing, that is, He did not go away again, as He had done before.
11 Hebr. as turn upon turn.
11¶And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do 12a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth 13it shallb tingle.
12 Understand, the defeats of the Israelites, whereof mention is made 1 Sam. 4:2, 10.
13 Intimating, that those who would hear of the great defeat of the Israelites, they would as it were lose their senses through amazement.
b 2 Kings 21:12; Jer. 19:3.
12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which Ic have 14spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
c 1 Sam. 2:31.
14 Namely, by the man of God, 1 Sam. 2:27, etc.
13For I have told him 15that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves 16vile, and he 17restrained them not.
15 That is, that I will execute My just judgment and vengeance upon him and his house.
16 Other, light, contemptible, that is, when by their wicked life and ungodly practices they made themselves to be cursed and despised, and to be counted vain light fellows, that they were not worthy any honor or esteem.
17 The Hebrew word signifies properly frown, or to get wrinkles in the face, which is done by those, who, being displeased, do frown or look sour. Understand additionally, much less did he punish them according to their desert, which he ought to have done, as father, as high priest, and as judge, who was ordered to stop and hinder wickedness, and to punish it, being committed.
14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, 18that the iniquity of Eli’s house 19shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
18 Of this kind of oath, see Gen. 14:22, 23.
19 Namely so, that I would withhold and not execute the temporal judgments which I have pronounced against the house of Eli.
15¶And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the 20vision.
20 That is, those things, which the Lord had revealed to him in a vision, although this was not only a vision, but also an appearance: Samuel, waking, heard these words, and not in a trance, as visions were wont to be made. See Gen. 15:1.
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 21do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
21 See on this phrase, Ruth 1:17.
18And Samuel told him every whit,d and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
d every whit: everything*
19¶And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let 22none of his words fall to the ground.
22 That is, the Lord performed effectually whatsoever He had foretold by Samuel. To fall to the ground is as much to say as to come to nothing, or, to come to shame, as Mat. 10:29. Compare 1 Kings 8:56.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was 23established to be a prophet of the LORD.
23 Other, was esteemed or found faithful.
21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: 24for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
24 Intimating, that the Lord revealed His word unto Samuel by dreams, visions, and communication, which was seldom done before. See verse 1.