Old Testament · 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 3

The LORD Calls Samuel

1And the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before the face of Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no vision breaking forth. 2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place—now his eyes had begun to grow dim, he could not see—

3and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was—

4and the LORD called to Samuel, and he said: "Here I am."

5And he ran to Eli and said: "Here I am, for you called me." And he said: "I did not call; return, lie down." And he went and lay down.

6And the LORD added to call yet again, "Samuel." And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said: "Here I am, for you called me." And he said: "I did not call, my son; return, lie down."

7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8And the LORD again called Samuel a third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said: "Here I am, for you called me." And Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. 9And Eli said to Samuel: "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he calls to you, that you shall say: Speak, the LORD, for your servant is listening." And Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10And the LORD came and stood and called as time after time: "Samuel, Samuel." And Samuel said: "Speak, for your servant is listening."

11And the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I am doing a thing in Israel, at which both ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle. 12In that day I will raise up against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, beginning and finishing. 13And I have told him that I am judging his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, for his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves, and he did not restrain them. 14And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."

Samuel Shares the Vision

15And Samuel lay until the morning, and he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to tell Eli the vision. 16And Eli called Samuel and said: "Samuel, my son." And he said: "Here I am."

17And he said: "What is the word that he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. So may God do to you, and so may he add, if you hide from me a word of all the words that he spoke to you."

18And Samuel told him all the words, and he did not hide from him. And he said: "It is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."

19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

20And all Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet to the LORD. 21And the LORD again appeared in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.