Shared Word Translation
1 Samuel 3
The LORD Calls Samuel
The boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. And it happened at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place—his eyes had begun to grow dim so that he could not see— and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call. Go back; lie down.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son. Go back; lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, the third time. He arose, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. And if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood and called as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Judgment against Eli’s House
The LORD said to Samuel, “Look, I am doing a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will establish against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am judging his house forever for the guilt that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I have sworn concerning the house of Eli that the guilt of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
Samuel Tells Eli the Vision
Samuel lay until morning and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” He said, “What is the word that he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. Thus may God do to you and more also if you hide from me a word from all the words that he spoke to you.” So Samuel told him all the words and hid nothing from him. And he said, “He is the LORD. Let him do what is good in his eyes.”
Samuel Is Established as a Prophet
Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.