1 Samuel 3:9-21 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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:19-21

Samuel being thus brought acquainted with the visions of God, we have here an account of the further honour done him as a prophet. I. God did him honour. Having begun to favour him, he carried on and crowned his own work in him: Samuel grew, for the Lord was with him, 1 Sam. 3:19. All our increase in wisdom and grace is owing to the presence of God with us; this is all in all to our growth. God honoured Samuel, 1. By further manifestations of himself to him. Samuel had faithfully delivered the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:9

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, go, lie down ,.... Once more: and it shall be, if he call thee ; the voice, or the Lord by it: that thou shalt say, speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth ; his meaning is, that he should not rise and come to him, as he had done, but continue on his bed, on hearing the voice again, but desire the Lord to speak to him what he had to say, to which he was ready to attend: so Samuel went and lay down in his place ; which, as commonly understood, was in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:10

And the Lord came, and stood ,.... At the place where Samuel lay; either there was, as Kimchi, a form before his eyes in the vision of prophecy, some visible corporeal shape assumed; or a bright splendour an illustrious appearance of the glory of God; or it may be rather the voice, which before seemed to be at some distance whereabout Eli lay; it now seemed nearer, and was as the voice of one just by him, that sounded in his ears: and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel : repeating... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11

And the Lord said to Samuel ,.... The voice of the Lord continued speaking to him: behold: I will do a thing in Israel ; which may be particularly interpreted of the taking of the ark, and the slaying of the two sons of Eli; and which is elsewhere represented as the Lord's doing, for the sins of Eli's family, Psalm 78:61 . at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle ; be struck with horror and amazement, and quite stunned, and know not what to think or say, like... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:12

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house ,.... Or family, that is, by the man of God, 1 Samuel 2:27 as that he would cut off the strength of it, that there should not be an old man in it; and such as remained should be reduced to the utmost poverty and meanness; this shows that that prophecy was antecedent to this, contrary to the sense of some: when I begin, I will also make an end ; not immediately, and at once, but by degrees; he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:13

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever ,.... That is, bring his judgments upon them, which should continue on them to their utter destruction; this, as to the substance, he said before by the man of God: for the iniquity which he knoweth ; for the iniquity of his sons, which he thoroughly informed of, and fully acquainted with by others; and somewhat of which he must have been sensible of, and seen with his own eyes, and therefore was inexcusable: because his sons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:14

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli ,.... Either had done this before, which was signified to him by the man of God, or did swear now for the confirmation of his threatenings, and to assure the certain performance of them: that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever : not even typically, which was all that legal sacrifice could do; and not so that the priesthood should ever return to the family again, as the office of high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:15

And Samuel lay until the morning ,.... It is not said he slept; it can hardly be thought he should, when it is considered what a new, strange, and uncommon thing had befallen him; what honour had been conferred on him a child, that the Lord should vouchsafe to speak and communicate his mind to him, and what dreadful things were said of Eli's family; all which must greatly affect his mind, and keep him waking: however, he lay musing thereon until morning, and then arose: and opened the... read more

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:19-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 3:15

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