1 Samuel 3
3
The LORD Calls Samuel
1The boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the Lord was rare; visions were infrequent. 2One night Eli was lying down in his room. His eyesight had begun to fail so that he couldn’t see well. 3The lamp in God’s temple #3:3 According to Exodus 27:21, each night the priests were to light a lamp in the tent of meeting which was to burn from dusk to dawn. hadn’t gone out yet, and Samuel was asleep in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was kept.
4Then the Lord called Samuel. “Here I am,” Samuel responded. 5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I didn’t call ⌞you⌟,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back and lay down.
6The Lord called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I didn’t call ⌞you⌟, son,” he responded. “Go back to bed.” 7Samuel had no experience with the Lord, because the Lord’s word had not yet been revealed to him.
8The Lord called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9“Go, lie down,” Eli told Samuel. “When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I’m listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his room.
10The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”
11Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am going to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it ring. 12On that day I am going to do to Eli and his family everything I said from beginning to end. 13I told him that I would hand down a permanent judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin—that they were cursing God #3:13 Ancient scribal tradition, Greek, and Latin; Masoretic Text “cursing themselves.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful to God.—but he didn’t try to stop them. 14That is why I have taken an oath concerning Eli’s family line: No offering or sacrifice will ever ⌞be able to⌟ make peace for the sins that Eli’s family committed.”
15Samuel remained in bed until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.
16Then Eli called Samuel. “Samuel, my son!” he said.
“Here I am,” he responded.
17“What did the Lord tell you?” he asked. “Please don’t hide anything from me. May God strike you dead if you hide anything he told you from me.”
18So Samuel told Eli everything.
Eli replied, “He is the Lord. May he do what he thinks is right.”
19Samuel grew up. The Lord was with him and didn’t let any of his words go unfulfilled. 20All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew Samuel was the Lord’s appointed prophet. 21The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, since the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the Lord’s word. And Samuel spoke to all Israel.#3:21 This sentence is the first part of 1 Samuel 4:1 in the Hebrew Bible and most English Bibles.
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1 Samuel 3: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
1 Kings 3
3
1Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days: there was no manifest vision.
2And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:
3Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.
5And he ran to Heli and said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. He said: I did not call. Go back and sleep. And he went and slept.
6And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to Heli, and said: Here am I; for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not call thee, my son. Return and sleep.
7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord; neither had the word of the Lord been revealed to him.
8And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up and went to Heli.
9And said: Here am I; for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep. And if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.
10And the Lord came and stood. And he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
11And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold, I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.
12In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.
13For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity; because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.
14Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.
15And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.
16Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I.
17And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee, and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said to thee.
18So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him. And he answered: It is the Lord. Let him do what is good in his sight.
19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him: and not one of his words fell to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan to Bersabee knew that Samuel was a faithful prophet of the Lord.
21And the Lord again appeared in Silo for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of Samuel came to pass to all Israel.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.