INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 3 This chapter gives an account of the Lord's calling to Samuel in the night season, which he first took for the voice of Eli, but being instructed by him, made answer to the voice, 1 Samuel 3:1, and of a message sent from him by Samuel to Eli, foretelling the destructi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILD SAMUEL MINISTERED UNTO THE LORD BEFORE ELI,.... Under his direction and instruction; the Targum is, in the life of Eli, and in such parts of service, relating to the tabernacle of the Lord, as he was capable of, such as opening and shutting the doors of it, lighting the lamps, singing... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,.... When the word of the Lord was scarce and precious, and there was no open vision; or, as Ben Gersom, the same day the man of God came to Eli at night, the following affair happened: WHEN ELI WAS LAID DOWN IN HIS PLACE; on his bed to sleep, in one of the chambers... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ERE THE LAMP OF GOD WENT OUT IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD,.... The tabernacle so called; lamp is put for the lamps in the candlestick in the tabernacle, which were lighted every evening, and burnt till morning; by which time some of them at least usually went out, only it is said the western lamp n... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE LORD CALLED SAMUEL,.... By a voice which came forth from the most holy place, from between the cherubim, the seat of the divine Majesty: AND HE ANSWERED, HERE AM I; which was not intended to declare the place where he was, but to express his readiness and cheerfulness to do any thing that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RAN UNTO ELI, AND SAID HERE [AM] I,.... He got out of his bed as fast as he could, and put on his clothes, and ran with all haste to the apartment where Eli lay, supposing he wanted some immediate assistance, which he was there ready to give him to the utmost of his ability; and he made the m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD CALLED YET AGAIN, Samuel,.... Called him a second time by his name, with a like audible voice as before: AND SAMUEL AROSE, AND WENT TO ELI; did not run as before, being perhaps more thoughtful of this affair, that he should be called a second time, and careful not to awake Eli, should... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SAMUEL DID NOT YET KNOW THE LORD,.... He knew that Jehovah, the God of Israel, was the true God; he had spiritual knowledge of him, and knew somewhat of his word and worship, ways and ordinances, in which he had been instructed by Eli; wherefore, though the Targum is, "Samuel had not yet learne... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD CALLED SAMUEL AGAIN THE THIRD TIME,.... In the same manner he had done before, expressing his name no doubt: AND HE AROSE AND WENT TO ELI, AND SAID, HERE AM I, FOR THOU DIDST CALL ME; as if he should say, it must certainly be so, I cannot be mistaken a third time: AND ELI PERCEIVED TH... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ELI SAID UNTO SAMUEL, GO, LIE DOWN,.... Once more; AND IT SHALL BE, IF HE CALL THEE; the voice, or the Lord by it: THAT THOU SHALT SAY, SPEAK, LORD, FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH; his meaning is, that he should not rise and come to him, as he had done, but continue on his bed, on hearing the v... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD CAME, AND STOOD,.... At the place where Samuel lay; either there was, as Kimchi, a form before his eyes in the vision of prophecy, some visible corporeal shape assumed; or a bright splendour an illustrious appearance of the glory of God; or it may be rather the voice, which before seeme... [ Continue Reading ]
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'... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY I WILL PERFORM AGAINST ELI ALL THINGS WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN CONCERNING HIS HOUSE,.... Or family, that is, by the man of God, 1 Samuel 2:27 as that he would cut off the strength of it, that there should not be an old man in it; and such as remained should be reduced to the utmost poverty an... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT I WILL JUDGE HIS HOUSE FOR EVER,.... That is, bring his judgments upon them, which should continue on them to their utter destruction; this, as to the substance, he said before by the man of God: FOR THE INIQUITY WHICH HE KNOWETH; for the iniquity of his sons, which he thor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEREFORE I HAVE SWORN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ELI,.... Either had done this before, which was signified to him by the man of God, or did swear now for the confirmation of his threatenings, and to assure the certain performance of them: THAT THE INIQUITY OF ELI'S HOUSE SHALL NOT BE PURGED WITH SACRIF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAMUEL LAY UNTIL THE MORNING,.... It is not said he slept; it can hardly be thought he should, when it is considered what a new, strange, and uncommon thing had befallen him; what honour had been conferred on him a child, that the Lord should vouchsafe to speak and communicate his mind to him, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ELI CALLED SAMUEL,.... Perceiving he was risen by the opening of the doors of the tabernacle, which he might hear; and observing he did not come to him as usual, to know whether he wanted anything, and being impatient to hear what was said to him of the Lord: AND HE SAID, SAMUEL, MY SON; calle... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WHAT IS THE THING THAT THE [LORD] HATH SAID UNTO THEE?.... The word "Lord" is not in the text, but it is "that it hath said"; the voice that had so often called him in the night, and which yet Eli knew was the voice of the Lord; and as it was, he was sensible there was something of impo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAMUEL TOLD HIM EVERY WHIT, AND HID NOTHING FROM HIM,.... And so approved himself to be a faithful prophet of God, and man of God, as he is afterwards called; the whole counsel of God is to be declared by his servants the prophets, and the ministers of his word; nothing is to be concealed, which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAMUEL GREW,.... Not only in years and stature, but in grace and goodness, in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, both with respect to things natural and spiritual, and in esteem, credit, and reputation among men: AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM; he was not only in favour with men, but with God; an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL ISRAEL, FROM DAN EVEN UNTO BEERSHEBA,.... That is, from the most northern border of the land of Israel, on which Dan lay, to the utmost border of it southward, where Beersheba was, the fame of Samuel for his piety, prudence, and prophecy, was spread abroad; so that all KNEW THAT SAMUEL WAS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD APPEARED AGAIN IN SHILOH,.... In the tabernacle there; he had appeared before to Samuel, when he called him, and declared to him what he designed and resolved to do to Eli and his family, and now appeared again to him in the same place before the battle of the Israelites with the Philis... [ Continue Reading ]