1 Samuel 3:17-18

17, 18. What is the thing that… said unto thee It will be observed that the English version supplies the words the LORD, but in his question Eli seems to have intentionally omitted the subject of the verb said. His words imply that he himself was uncertain who had called Samuel. He was doubtless strongly persuaded that it was Jehovah, for this had been his conviction when the child came to him the third time, (1 Samuel 3:8,) but not until Samuel had told him every whit, (1 Samuel 3:18 כל הדברים , all the words, that is, the entire communication of 1 Samuel 3:11-14,) was he absolutely sure; then he said, It is the Lord, and bowed in humble submissiveness before the sad and solemn prophecy. If he had entertained any doubts respecting the message of 1 Samuel 2:27-36, all doubt must have vanished now, as that message received confirmation through the child Samuel, whose word he could not doubt.