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Matthew Henry

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 3:1

Samuel ministered unto the Lord - He performed minor services in the tabernacle, under the direction of Eli, such as opening the doors, etc. See 1 Samuel 3:15 . The word of the Lord was precious - There were but few revelations from God; and because the word was scarce, therefore it was valuable. The author of this book probably lived at a time when prophecy was frequent, See the preface. There was no open vision - There was no public accredited prophet;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1

EXPOSITION THE CALL OF SAMUEL ( 1 Samuel 3:1-10 ). The word of the Lord was precious in those days . Or rather rare ; it came but seldom, and there was no proper order of persons from whose ranks the "speakers for God" would naturally step forth. It was this which made the revelation of Jehovah's will to Samuel an event so memorable both for the Jewish nation and for the Church; for he was called by the providence of God to be the founder of prophecy as an established... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Light withheld. The facts given are— 1 . A lack of the manifest revelations of the Divine will to which Israel had been accustomed. 2 . A consciousness of this want on the part of the few pious in Israel. 3 . The continued service of Samuel in the ordinary routine of the sanctuary. 4 . The resumption of the manifest revelation by the call of Samuel to receive it. 5 . Samuel experiences difficulty in recognising the call of God. 6 . Eli renders to him the assistance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-18

The old priest and the child prophet. Every imagination must be struck by the contrast between the old man and the child. The more so, that the natural order of things is reversed. Instead of admonition to the child coming through the lips of age, admonition to the aged came through the lips of childhood. 1. THE CHARACTER OF ELI ILLUSTRATED . 1 . His good points. The Lord had ceased to speak to or by Eli; but when the old priest perceived that the Lord had spoken to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 3:1

See the margin reference note. Josephus says that Samuel’s call to the prophetic office happened when he had just completed his twelfth year (compare Luke 2:42).Was precious - (or rare) The song of Hannah, and the prophecy of the “man of God” (1 Samuel 2:27 note), are the only instances of prophecy since Deborah. Samuel is mentioned as the first of the series of prophets Acts 3:24.No open vision - Better rendered, “There was no vision promulgated or published.” (Compare 2 Chronicles 31:5.) read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 3:1

1 Samuel 3:1. The child Samuel ministered before Eli That is, under his inspection and direction. The word of the Lord was precious That is, the word of prophecy, or the revelation of God’s will to and by the prophets, was rare or scarce, such things being most precious in men’s esteem, whereas common things are generally despised. In other words, God did very rarely in those days reveal his mind to any person. There was no open vision Here vision includes all the ways whereby God... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:1-18

Judgment on the family of Eli (2:12-3:18)Eli the priest had become the judge, or chief administrator, in Israel. He sat at the door of the house of God where people could freely meet him to seek his advice or ask for directions in disputes (see 1:9; 4:18). His sons, it seems, carried out the routine work in connection with the sacrifices and ceremonies.According to the Levitical law, the portion of the sacrifice that was for God had to be burnt on the altar first, after which the priest and the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 3:1

child = youth. Hebrew. na'ar. the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . was = had come to be. precious . Hebrew. yakar = heavy (in price). Note the five precious things in Old. Testament: the word of God (1 Samuel 3:1 , its first occurrence); redemption (Psalms 49:8 ); the death of His saints (Psalms 72:14 ; Psalms 116:15 ); the lips of knowledge (Proverbs 20:15 ); the thoughts of God (Psalms 139:17 ). See note on the five in New Testament (Matthew 26:7 ). read more

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