3:1 How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel; 3:11 God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house; 3:15 Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision; 3:19 Samuel grows in credit.
Verse 1the child1 Samuel 3:15, 2:11, 2:18the word3:21; Psalm 74:9; Isaiah 13:12; Amos 8:11, 8:12Reciprocal1 Samuel 1:22 - and there; Proverbs 29:18 - there; Isaiah 22:1 - of vision; Matthew 20:2 - he sent; Acts 3:24 - Samuel; Habakkuk 3:1 - SamuelVerse 2his eyes1 Samuel 2:22, 4:15; Genesis 27:1, 48:19; Psalm 90:10; Ecclesiastes 12:3ReciprocalGenesis 48:10 - the eyes; 1 Kings 14:4 - for his eyes; Ecclesiastes 12:2 - the sunVerse 3ereBefore sun-rise: for it is probable the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun; see the parallel passages.the lampExodus 27:20, 27:21, 30:7, 30:8; Leviticus 24:2-4; 2 Chronicles 13:11the temple1 Samuel 1:6; Psalm 5:7, 27:4, 29:9Reciprocal1 Samuel 1:9 - GeneralVerse 4called SamuelGenesis 22:1; Exodus 3:4; Psalm 99:6; Acts 9:4; 1 Corinthians 12:6-11, 12:28; Galatians 1:15, 1:16ReciprocalGenesis 28:16 - and I; 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; 46:2 - Jacob; Leviticus 24:2 - that they; 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other; 3:21 - the word; Isaiah 58:9 - Here; Matthew 11:25 - and hast; Acts 9:5 - Who; 9:10 - BeholdVerse 61 Samuel 4:16; Genesis 43:29; 2 Samuel 18:22; Matthew 9:2ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; Ruth 2:8 - my daughter; 1 Samuel 25:8 - thy son; John 20:16 - MaryVerse 7Now SamuelOr, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.did not yetSamuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel, but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets. Jeremiah 9:24; Acts 19:2Reciprocal1 Samuel 2:12 - knewVerse 8the thirdJob 33:14, 33:15 Although Samuel did not apprehend the way in which God reveals himself to his servants the prophets - by the "still small voice" - yet when this direct communication from the Almighty was made the third time, in a way altogether new and strange to him, it seems astonishing that he did not immediately apprehend. Perhaps he would have been sooner aware of a divine revelation, had it come in a dream or a vision. Those who have the greatest knowledge of divine things, should remember the time when they were as babes, unskilful in the word of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 13:11, 13:12ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other; Acts 9:10 - BeholdVerse 9SpeakExodus 20:19; Psalm 85:8; Isaiah 6:8; Daniel 10:19; Acts 9:6ReciprocalJoshua 5:14 - What saithVerse 10the Lord cameThis seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.as at other1 Samuel 3:4-6, 3:8 Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word: he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.ReciprocalGenesis 22:11 - Abraham; 46:2 - Jacob; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; Joshua 5:14 - What saith; Daniel 10:19 - Let; John 20:16 - Mary; Acts 10:4 - What; 22:7 - SaulVerse 11I will doIsaiah 29:14; Amos 3:6, 3:7; Habakkuk 1:5; Acts 13:41both the ears2 Kings 21:12; Isaiah 28:19; Jeremiah 19:3; Luke 21:26Reciprocal1 Samuel 4:1 - came; 4:17 - Israel; Job 41:9 - shall; Jeremiah 28:8 - prophesiedVerse 12I will perform1 Samuel 2:27-36; Numbers 23:19; Joshua 23:15; Zechariah 1:6; Luke 21:33when I beginetc. Heb. beginning and endingReciprocalLeviticus 14:35 - a plague; Judges 4:24 - prospered; 1 Samuel 2:34 - a sign; 4:18 - his neck; 22:18 - fourscore; 1 Kings 2:27 - that he; 2 Kings 15:37 - began; Jeremiah 30:24 - fierce; Ezekiel 21:5 - it shall; Hosea 4:6 - I will also; Nahum 1:9 - he; Titus 1:6 - havingVerse 13For I have told himor, And I will tell him, etc. 1 Samuel 2:27-30, 2:31-36I will2 Chronicles 20:12; Ezekiel 7:3, 18:30; Joel 3:12which he knoweth1 Kings 2:44; Ecclesiastes 7:22; 1 John 3:20his sons1 Samuel 2:12, 2:17, 2:22, 2:23-26vileor, accursedrestrained them notHeb. frowned not upon them, 2:23-25; 1 Kings 1:6; Proverbs 19:18, 23:13, 23:14, 29:15; Matthew 10:37ReciprocalLeviticus 20:4 - and kill; 21:9 - the daughter; Judges 18:7 - magistrate; 1 Samuel 1:3 - And the; 4:18 - his neck; 9:17 - reign over; 12:2 - my sons; 2 Chronicles 14:4 - commanded; Psalm 109:13 - Let his; Proverbs 24:25 - them; Daniel 11:21 - a vile person; Nahum 1:14 - for; 1 Timothy 3:5 - if; Titus 1:6 - having; Habakkuk 3:1 - for whatVerse 14the iniquity1 Samuel 2:25; Numbers 15:30, 15:31; Psalm 51:16; Isaiah 22:14; Jeremiah 7:16, 15:1; Ezekiel 24:13; Habakkuk 3:1-10:10, 3:1-10:31ReciprocalLeviticus 9:7 - offer thy; 20:4 - and kill; 21:9 - the daughter; Joshua 24:19 - he will not; Malachi 2:12 - and himVerse 15opened1 Samuel 1:9; Malachi 1:10SamuelSamuel reverenced Eli as a father, and feared to distress him by shewing what God had purposed to do. It does not appear that God commanded Samuel to deliver this message; he therefore did not attempt it till adjured by Eli. It might be supposed that Samuel would have been so full of ecstasy as to have forgotten his ordinary service, and run amongst his friends to tell them of the converse he had with God in the night, but he modestly keeps it to himself. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed on the house-top.fearedJeremiah 1:6-8; 1 Corinthians 16:10, 16:11Reciprocal1 Samuel 2:11 - minister; 3:1 - the child; 1 Chronicles 9:27 - the opening; Esther 6:12 - came again; Daniel 8:27 - and didVerse 16ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; Ruth 2:8 - my daughter; 1 Samuel 12:2 - my sonsVerse 17I pray theePsalm 141:5; Daniel 4:19; Micah 2:7God1 Samuel 20:13; Ruth 1:17; 2 Samuel 3:35, 19:13; 1 Kings 22:16; Matthew 26:63more alsoHeb. so addthingor, wordReciprocalNumbers 23:17 - What; 1 Samuel 25:22 - So and more; 2 Samuel 3:9 - So do God; 14:18 - Hide not; 2 Kings 6:31 - God do so; Jeremiah 38:14 - I will; 42:4 - I will keepVerse 18every whitHeb. all the things, or, words, Whit, or wid, comes from the Anglo-Saxon wiht, which signifies person, thing, etc.: every whit is every thing: equivalent to every jot.It is the LordGenesis 18:25; Judges 10:15; 2 Samuel 16:10-12; Job 1:21, 2:10; Psalm 39:9; Isaiah 39:8; Lamentations 3:39; 1 Peter 5:6ReciprocalLeviticus 10:3 - Aaron; Joshua 9:25 - as it seemeth; 1 Samuel 22:3 - till I know; 2 Samuel 10:12 - the Lord; 14:18 - Hide not; 15:26 - let; 2 Kings 4:26 - It is well; 20:19 - Good; 1 Chronicles 19:13 - let the Lord; Jeremiah 34:6 - General; 38:14 - I will; 42:4 - I will keep; Daniel 4:35 - and he; Jonah 4:8 - and wished; Micah 7:9 - bear; Acts 21:14 - The will; James 4:7 - SubmitVerse 19grew1 Samuel 2:21; Judges 13:24; Luke 1:80, 2:40, 2:52the Lord1 Samuel 18:14; Genesis 39:2, 39:21-23; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:28; 2 Corinthians 13:11, 13:14; 2 Timothy 4:22let none1 Samuel 9:6; 1 Kings 8:56; Isaiah 44:26ReciprocalJoshua 23:14 - not one thing; 1 Samuel 12:2 - I have walked; 16:18 - the Lord; 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth; 2 Kings 3:12 - The word; 10:10 - fall unto the earth; Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember; Ezekiel 33:33 - whenVerse 20DanJudges 20:1; 2 Samuel 3:10, 17:11establishedor, faithful, 1 Timothy 1:12ReciprocalGenesis 46:1 - Beersheba; 1 Samuel 9:6 - all that he saith; 12:2 - I have walked; 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth; 1 Chronicles 21:2 - Beersheba; Ezekiel 33:33 - when; Amos 2:11 - I raised; Luke 1:80 - the child; Acts 3:24 - Samuel; 13:20 - untilVerse 21And the LordWyyoseph yehowah lehairaoh, "And Jehovah added to appear:" that is, He continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh.appearedGenesis 12:7, 15:1; Numbers 12:6; Amos 3:7; Habakkuk 1:1the word1 Samuel 3:1, 3:4ReciprocalMatthew 20:2 - he sent
3:11 God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house;
3:15 Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision;
3:19 Samuel grows in credit. Verse 1the child1 Samuel 3:15, 2:11, 2:18 the word3:21; Psalm 74:9; Isaiah 13:12; Amos 8:11, 8:12Reciprocal1 Samuel 1:22 - and there; Proverbs 29:18 - there; Isaiah 22:1 - of vision; Matthew 20:2 - he sent; Acts 3:24 - Samuel; Habakkuk 3:1 - Samuel Verse 2his eyes1 Samuel 2:22, 4:15; Genesis 27:1, 48:19; Psalm 90:10; Ecclesiastes 12:3ReciprocalGenesis 48:10 - the eyes; 1 Kings 14:4 - for his eyes; Ecclesiastes 12:2 - the sun Verse 3ereBefore sun-rise: for it is probable the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun; see the parallel passages.the lampExodus 27:20, 27:21, 30:7, 30:8; Leviticus 24:2-4; 2 Chronicles 13:11 the temple1 Samuel 1:6; Psalm 5:7, 27:4, 29:9Reciprocal1 Samuel 1:9 - General Verse 4called SamuelGenesis 22:1; Exodus 3:4; Psalm 99:6; Acts 9:4; 1 Corinthians 12:6-11, 12:28; Galatians 1:15, 1:16ReciprocalGenesis 28:16 - and I; 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; 46:2 - Jacob; Leviticus 24:2 - that they; 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other; 3:21 - the word; Isaiah 58:9 - Here; Matthew 11:25 - and hast; Acts 9:5 - Who; 9:10 - Behold Verse 61 Samuel 4:16; Genesis 43:29; 2 Samuel 18:22; Matthew 9:2ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; Ruth 2:8 - my daughter; 1 Samuel 25:8 - thy son; John 20:16 - Mary Verse 7Now SamuelOr, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.did not yetSamuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel, but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets. Jeremiah 9:24; Acts 19:2Reciprocal1 Samuel 2:12 - knew Verse 8the thirdJob 33:14, 33:15
Although Samuel did not apprehend the way in which God reveals himself to his servants the prophets - by the "still small voice" - yet when this direct communication from the Almighty was made the third time, in a way altogether new and strange to him, it seems astonishing that he did not immediately apprehend. Perhaps he would have been sooner aware of a divine revelation, had it come in a dream or a vision. Those who have the greatest knowledge of divine things, should remember the time when they were as babes, unskilful in the word of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 13:11, 13:12ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other; Acts 9:10 - Behold Verse 9SpeakExodus 20:19; Psalm 85:8; Isaiah 6:8; Daniel 10:19; Acts 9:6ReciprocalJoshua 5:14 - What saith Verse 10the Lord cameThis seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.as at other1 Samuel 3:4-6, 3:8
Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word: he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.ReciprocalGenesis 22:11 - Abraham; 46:2 - Jacob; Exodus 3:4 - Moses; Joshua 5:14 - What saith; Daniel 10:19 - Let; John 20:16 - Mary; Acts 10:4 - What; 22:7 - Saul Verse 11I will doIsaiah 29:14; Amos 3:6, 3:7; Habakkuk 1:5; Acts 13:41 both the ears2 Kings 21:12; Isaiah 28:19; Jeremiah 19:3; Luke 21:26Reciprocal1 Samuel 4:1 - came; 4:17 - Israel; Job 41:9 - shall; Jeremiah 28:8 - prophesied Verse 12I will perform1 Samuel 2:27-36; Numbers 23:19; Joshua 23:15; Zechariah 1:6; Luke 21:33 when I beginetc. Heb. beginning and endingReciprocalLeviticus 14:35 - a plague; Judges 4:24 - prospered; 1 Samuel 2:34 - a sign; 4:18 - his neck; 22:18 - fourscore; 1 Kings 2:27 - that he; 2 Kings 15:37 - began; Jeremiah 30:24 - fierce; Ezekiel 21:5 - it shall; Hosea 4:6 - I will also; Nahum 1:9 - he; Titus 1:6 - having Verse 13For I have told himor, And I will tell him, etc. 1 Samuel 2:27-30, 2:31-36 I will2 Chronicles 20:12; Ezekiel 7:3, 18:30; Joel 3:12 which he knoweth1 Kings 2:44; Ecclesiastes 7:22; 1 John 3:20 his sons1 Samuel 2:12, 2:17, 2:22, 2:23-26 vileor, accursedrestrained them notHeb. frowned not upon them, 2:23-25; 1 Kings 1:6; Proverbs 19:18, 23:13, 23:14, 29:15; Matthew 10:37ReciprocalLeviticus 20:4 - and kill; 21:9 - the daughter; Judges 18:7 - magistrate; 1 Samuel 1:3 - And the; 4:18 - his neck; 9:17 - reign over; 12:2 - my sons; 2 Chronicles 14:4 - commanded; Psalm 109:13 - Let his; Proverbs 24:25 - them; Daniel 11:21 - a vile person; Nahum 1:14 - for; 1 Timothy 3:5 - if; Titus 1:6 - having; Habakkuk 3:1 - for what Verse 14the iniquity1 Samuel 2:25; Numbers 15:30, 15:31; Psalm 51:16; Isaiah 22:14; Jeremiah 7:16, 15:1; Ezekiel 24:13; Habakkuk 3:1-10:10, 3:1-10:31ReciprocalLeviticus 9:7 - offer thy; 20:4 - and kill; 21:9 - the daughter; Joshua 24:19 - he will not; Malachi 2:12 - and him Verse 15opened1 Samuel 1:9; Malachi 1:10 SamuelSamuel reverenced Eli as a father, and feared to distress him by shewing what God had purposed to do. It does not appear that God commanded Samuel to deliver this message; he therefore did not attempt it till adjured by Eli. It might be supposed that Samuel would have been so full of ecstasy as to have forgotten his ordinary service, and run amongst his friends to tell them of the converse he had with God in the night, but he modestly keeps it to himself. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed on the house-top.fearedJeremiah 1:6-8; 1 Corinthians 16:10, 16:11Reciprocal1 Samuel 2:11 - minister; 3:1 - the child; 1 Chronicles 9:27 - the opening; Esther 6:12 - came again; Daniel 8:27 - and did Verse 16ReciprocalGenesis 31:11 - Here am I; 37:13 - Here am I; Ruth 2:8 - my daughter; 1 Samuel 12:2 - my sons Verse 17I pray theePsalm 141:5; Daniel 4:19; Micah 2:7 God1 Samuel 20:13; Ruth 1:17; 2 Samuel 3:35, 19:13; 1 Kings 22:16; Matthew 26:63 more alsoHeb. so addthingor, wordReciprocalNumbers 23:17 - What; 1 Samuel 25:22 - So and more; 2 Samuel 3:9 - So do God; 14:18 - Hide not; 2 Kings 6:31 - God do so; Jeremiah 38:14 - I will; 42:4 - I will keep Verse 18every whitHeb. all the things, or, words, Whit, or wid, comes from the Anglo-Saxon wiht, which signifies person, thing, etc.: every whit is every thing: equivalent to every jot.It is the LordGenesis 18:25; Judges 10:15; 2 Samuel 16:10-12; Job 1:21, 2:10; Psalm 39:9; Isaiah 39:8; Lamentations 3:39; 1 Peter 5:6ReciprocalLeviticus 10:3 - Aaron; Joshua 9:25 - as it seemeth; 1 Samuel 22:3 - till I know; 2 Samuel 10:12 - the Lord; 14:18 - Hide not; 15:26 - let; 2 Kings 4:26 - It is well; 20:19 - Good; 1 Chronicles 19:13 - let the Lord; Jeremiah 34:6 - General; 38:14 - I will; 42:4 - I will keep; Daniel 4:35 - and he; Jonah 4:8 - and wished; Micah 7:9 - bear; Acts 21:14 - The will; James 4:7 - Submit Verse 19grew1 Samuel 2:21; Judges 13:24; Luke 1:80, 2:40, 2:52 the Lord1 Samuel 18:14; Genesis 39:2, 39:21-23; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:28; 2 Corinthians 13:11, 13:14; 2 Timothy 4:22 let none1 Samuel 9:6; 1 Kings 8:56; Isaiah 44:26ReciprocalJoshua 23:14 - not one thing; 1 Samuel 12:2 - I have walked; 16:18 - the Lord; 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth; 2 Kings 3:12 - The word; 10:10 - fall unto the earth; Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember; Ezekiel 33:33 - when Verse 20DanJudges 20:1; 2 Samuel 3:10, 17:11 establishedor, faithful, 1 Timothy 1:12ReciprocalGenesis 46:1 - Beersheba; 1 Samuel 9:6 - all that he saith; 12:2 - I have walked; 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth; 1 Chronicles 21:2 - Beersheba; Ezekiel 33:33 - when; Amos 2:11 - I raised; Luke 1:80 - the child; Acts 3:24 - Samuel; 13:20 - until Verse 21And the LordWyyoseph yehowah lehairaoh, "And Jehovah added to appear:" that is, He continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh.appearedGenesis 12:7, 15:1; Numbers 12:6; Amos 3:7; Habakkuk 1:1 the word1 Samuel 3:1, 3:4ReciprocalMatthew 20:2 - he sent