1 Samuel 3:11

_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._ I will do a thing in Israel. The reference is to the national disasters detailed in the following chapter, and the awful nature of which would strike with astonishment and horror all who should hear of them. THE EARS OF EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH IT SHALL TINGLE. This phrase was a familiar and favourite mode of speaking among the Hebrews (cf. 2 Kings 21:12; Jeremiah 19:3)....

11-18 What a great deal of guilt and corruption is there in us, concerning which we may say, It is the iniquity which our own heart knoweth; we are conscious to ourselves of it! Those who do not restrain the sins of others, when it is in their power to do it, make themselves partakers of the guilt, and will be charged as joining in it. In his remarkable answer to this awful sentence, Eli acknowledged that the Lord had a right to do as he saw good, being assured that he would do nothing wrong. The meekness, patience, and humility contained in those words, show that he was truly repentant; he accepted the punishment of his sin....

Verse 1 Samuel 3:11. _THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL_] He probably saw nothing, and only heard the _voice_; for it was not likely that any extraordinary _representation_ could have been made to the _eyes_ of a person so young. He heard a _voice_, but saw no _similitude_. _THE EARS - SHALL TINGLE._] It shall be a _piercing_ word to all Israel; it shall astound them all; and, after having heard it, it will still continue to _resound_ in their ears....

More accurately, “the which whosoever heareth both his ears shall tingle.” This expressive phrase occurs again twice (marginal references) with reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. It is remarkable that Jeremiah repeatedly compares the destruction of Jerusalem with the destruction of Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:12, Jeremiah 7:14; Jeremiah 26:6, Jeremiah 26:9; Compare Psalms 78:60)....

EXPOSITION THE CALL OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:1). 1 SAMUEL 3:1 THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS PRECIOUS IN THOSE DAYS. Or rather _rare_;_ _it came but seldom, and there was no proper order of persons from whose ranks the "speakers for God" would naturally step forth. It was this which made the revelation of Jehovah's will to Samuel an event so memorable both for the Jewish nation and for the Church; for he was called by the providence of God to be the founder of prophecy as an established institution, and henceforward, side by side with the king and priest, the prophet took his place as one of the three factors in the preparation for the coming of him who is a king to rule, a Prie

AND THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL,.... The voice of the Lord continued speaking to him: behold, I WILL DO A THING IN ISRAEL; which may be particularly interpreted of the taking of the ark, and the slaying of the two sons of Eli; and which is elsewhere represented as the Lord's doing, for the sins of Eli's family, Psalms 78:61 AT WHICH BOTH THE EARS OF EVERYONE THAT HEARETH IT SHALL TINGLE; be struck with horror and amazement, and quite stunned, and know not what to think or say, like persons surprised with a violent clap of thunder, which strikes their ears so strongly, that the noise of it is not soon gone from them; this was verified in Eli, and in his daughter-in-law particularly, who, at the news of the above things, the one fell backwards and broke his neck, and the other fell into labour and died; and all Israel were struck with astonishment at these t

4. SAMUEL'S CALL AND PROPHETIC MINISTRY CHAPTER 3 _ 1. Samuel's call (1 Samuel 3:1)_ 2. The message from Jehovah (1 Samuel 3:10) 3. Samuel the prophet (1 Samuel 3:19) After the priesthood had so completely failed and divine judgment had been pronounced, Samuel receives his call to the prophetic office. He continued his ministrations as a Levite during the time that the word of the Lord was precious (literally, rare); there was no vision. Up to this time Samuel had not known the Lord nor had the word of the Lord been revealed to him (verse 7). It must have been near the hour of dawn, for the tabernacle lamp was not yet gone out, when the voice of Jehovah called Samuel by name. He kn

IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF THE LORD, SAMUEL ANNOUNCES TO ELI THE DOOM OF HIS HOUSE. Parallel to the Deuteronomic section (1 Samuel 2:27). 1 SAMUEL 3:12. Probably an addition by the Deuteronomic writer to connect with 1 Samuel 2:27 ff. 1 Samuel 3:13. I have told: read, thou shalt tell. 1 Samuel 3:19 to 1 Samuel 4:1 A. ALL ISRAEL. SAMUEL ESTABLISHED AS PROPHET....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. TINGLE. Compare 2 Kings 21:12.Jeremiah 19:3....

Announcement of the Doom of Eli's House 11. _I will do_ I AM DOING. The catastrophe is certain. With God the future is as the present. _at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle_ This expression is found again in 2 Kings 21:12, and Jeremiah 19:3. In the latter passage there may be a tacit reference to this passage, suggesting a comparison between the destruction of Shiloh and the destruction of Jerusalem, such as is found elsewhere in Jeremiah (1 Samuel 7:12-14; 1 Samuel 26:6). The appalling catastrophe thus predicted was the impending defeat of Israel by the Philistin