1 Samuel 3:1-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-10

To make way for the account of God's revealing himself first to Samuel, we are here told, 1. How industrious Samuel was in serving God, according as his place and capacity were (1 Sam. 3:1): The child Samuel, though but a child, ministered unto the Lord before Eli. It was an aggravation of the wickedness of Eli's sons that the child Samuel shamed them. They rebelled against the Lord, but Samuel ministered to him; they slighted their father's admonitions, but Samuel was observant of them; he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11-18

Here is, I. The message which, after all this introduction, God delivered to Samuel concerning Eli's house. God did not come to him now to tell him how great a man he should be in his day, what a figure he should make, and what a blessing he should be in Israel. Young people have commonly a great curiosity to be told their fortune, but God came to Samuel, not to gratify his curiosity, but to employ him in his service and send him on an errand to another person, which was much better; and yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1

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 the praises of God, &c.; according to Josephus F14 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 10. sect. 4. , and others, he was now about twelve years of age: and the word of the Lord was precious in those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:2

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 or apartments of the tabernacle; for as there were such in the temple for the priests, so in that: and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see ; to help himself to anything he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:3

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 never went out. Now the reason why this is observed is to show that it was in the night, before morning, that the following transaction was: some by this lamp understand the lamp of prophecy, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:4

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 was required of him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:5

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 more haste, as knowing his age and infirmities, and being desirous, out of affection to him, to help him as soon as possible: for thou calledst me ; he took it to be the voice of Eli, partly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:6

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 he be mistaken again, and find him asleep: and said, here am I, for thou didst call me ; perceiving that he was awake, he desired to know what he wanted, and he was ready to help him; for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:7

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 learned to know doctrine from the Lord;'it can only be understood, that he had not learnt it perfectly; somewhat he knew of it, but in an imperfect manner, being a child: but the sense of the word is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:8

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 that the Lord had called the child ; he was satisfied now that Samuel must have heard a voice, and he knew there was no man in the tabernacle but himself, and therefore it must be the voice... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:8

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