< 1 Samuel 3 >

1 The child Samuel ministered to YHWH before Eli. The word of YHWH was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 It happened at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), 3 and the lamp of God hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in YHWH's temple, where the ark of God was; 4 that YHWH called, "Samuel. Samuel." And he said, "Here I am." 5 He ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." He said, "I did not call; lie down again." He went and lay down. 6 YHWHG called yet again, "Samuel. Samuel." And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know God, neither was the word of YHWH yet revealed to him. 8 Then YHWH called Samuel again the third time, and he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that YHWH had called the child. 9 So he said, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, reply, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" Then Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And YHWH came and stood, and called as at other times. Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 YHWH said to Samuel, "Look, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were cursing God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice nor offering forever." 15 And Samuel lay there until the morning, and in the morning he got up and opened the doors of the house of YHWH. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli said to Samuel, "Samuel, my son." And he replied, "Here I am." 17 He said, "What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do thus to you if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke to you in your ears." 18 And Samuel told him everything, and did not hide anything from him. And he said, "It is YHWH. Let him do what seems good to him." 19 So Samuel continued to grow, and YHWH was with him and let none of his words fail. 20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of YHWH. 21 And YHWH appeared again in Shiloh, for YHWH revealed himself to Samuel.

< 1 Samuel 3 >