1 Samuel 3 - Printer Friendly

What does 1 Samuel 3 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

This chapter tells the story of Samuel's first experience as a prophet of the Lord. Still just a boy, Samuel continued to carry out his duties in service to the Lord under the care and leadership of Eli, the priest of the tabernacle at Shiloh.

God had been mostly silent in Israel for a time, not giving many visions or prophecies to His people. His word was rare and infrequent (1 Samuel 3:1), but that is about to change as God begins to deliver messages to the people through this boy Samuel.

Eli the priest had grown very old (1 Samuel 2:22), and his eyesight was failing. One night, he was lying down in his bed, not far from the temple. Young Samuel was sleeping in the temple, not far from the ark of the covenant behind its veil, where God allowed His presence to rest on earth (1 Samuel 3:2–3).

Suddenly, Samuel hears someone call his name. He does not know it is the Lord and runs to Eli's bed to announce that he has come because Eli called him. Eli says he did not call Samuel and tells him to go back to bed. Samuel does so, but soon hears the Lord call his name again. Again, he runs to present himself to Eli, and again Eli insists to Samuel, "my son," that he did not call (1 Samuel 3:4–6).

The teller of the story pauses to remind his readers that Samuel did not yet know the Lord personally and had not received any messages from God before this. That's why the boy didn't understand who was calling him (1 Samuel 3:7).

When it happens a third time, Eli realizes the boy standing by his bed is hearing the voice of the Lord. He tells Samuel what to do if it happens again. The boy should say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:9). This time, the Lord comes and stands before Samuel and says his name twice: "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel responds, "Speak, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10), and the Lord begins to speak (1 Samuel 3:8–10).

The Lord's message is not easy one. God tells young Samuel that He's about to do something that will shock people, using an expression that evokes ringing ears, or shaking in terror. He is going to bring about everything He had previously said He would do against Eli and his house, including his descendants (1 Samuel 2:27–36). Eli's sons have blasphemed God by abusing their power as priests to unlawfully take parts of the offerings for themselves (1 Samuel 2:12–17). Eli is guilty of not restraining them, either as their father or as the high priest, and the Lord will punish Eli's house forever. The Lord swears to never allow the sins of Eli and his sons to be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever (1 Samuel 3:11–14).

Samuel stays in bed until morning and then gets up to carry out his duty of opening the doors to the house of the Lord. Eli calls Samuel, "my son," to come to him. When Samuel arrives, Eli explains to Samuel that it his duty to deliver the message the Lord gave to him and not to leave anything out. Samuel describes the Lord's message of judgment against Eli, and the old prophet responds almost with a shrug: let the Lord do what seems good to Him (1 Samuel 3:15–18).

Samuel continues to grow up and continues to receive messages from the Lord for His people. The Lord does not allow any of Samuel's prophetic words to "fall to the ground:" they are never untrue or unfulfilled. Everyone in Israel comes to know that Samuel is a true prophet of the Lord (1 Samuel 3:19–21).

First Samuel 3:1–14 finds both Samuel and Eli a bit older, though Samuel is still called a boy. Sometime before dawn, Samuel is sleeping in the temple and hears his name called. He runs to Eli, who tells him to go back to bed. When it happens a third time, Eli tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord reveals to Samuel that He is going to bring judgment on Eli and his household for Eli's failure to restrain the blasphemy of his sons against the Lord.

First Samuel 3:15–21 indicates Samuel was reluctant to share his first prophetic word from God. The Lord's message was dire: that Eli, the current priest, would suffer consequences for his sin. His sons and family were abusing their power and profaning God. With some prompting, Samuel delivers this message to Eli, who accepts it. Samuel continues to grow and is recognized by all of Israel as a prophet of the Lord.

Chapter Summary:

Samuel is just a boy when the Lord calls Him to serve as a prophet in Israel. Sleeping in the temple, Samuel hears his name and thinks Eli the priest is calling him. Eli finally tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord tells Samuel that He is going to fulfill His judgment against Eli and his household for the sins of Eli's sons and for Eli's failure to restrain them. Samuel delivers the entire message to Eli and begins his lifelong career as an official prophet of the Lord.

Chapter Context:

First Samuel 3 follows the prophecy of judgment against Eli and his household at the end of the previous chapter (1 Samuel 2:27–36) with a repeat of the prophecy through the words of young Samuel. Eli helps the boy to understand the Lord is speaking to him, and Samuel delivers the Lord's harsh message. Eli accepts Samuel's word, passively accepting whatever God will do. The next chapters explain Eli's death and Israel's renewed conflict with the Philistines.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

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