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
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