The LORD Calls Samuel

1Meanwhile the boy Samuel was serving the LORD before Eli. A word from the LORD was rare in those days, and visions were infrequent. 2At that time Eli, whose vision was growing dim,a was lying down in his bedroom.b 3The lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the tentc of the LORD where the Ark of God was. 4The LORD called out to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”

5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am! You called me.”

“I didn’t call you,” Elid said. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6Then the LORD again called out, “Samuel!”

So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am! You called me.”

He said, “I didn’t call you, my son. Go back and lie down.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD and had not yet had the word of the LORD revealed to him.

8Then the LORD called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am! You called me.”

Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy, 9so Eli told Samuel, “Go lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, ‘Speak, LORD, because your servant is listening.’” Then Samuele went and lay down.

10Later, the LORD came and stood there, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” as he had before.

Samuel said, “Speak, because your servant is listening.”

11“Look,” the LORD told Samuel. “I’m about to do somethingf in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears it tingle. 12I’ll fulfill every promise that I’ve spoken concerning Eli’s family, from beginning to end. 13I’ve told him that I’m about to judge his family forever because of the iniquity that he knew about. His sons committed blasphemyg and he did not rebuke them. 14Therefore I’ve sworn concerning Eli’s family that the iniquity of his family is not to be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

Samuel Delivers God’s Message

15Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD, but heh was afraid to report the vision to Eli. 16Then Eli called Samuel: “Samuel, my son.”

He said, “Here I am.”

17Elii said, “What did the LORDj say to you? Please don’t conceal anythingk from me. May God do this to you and even morel if you conceal from me one word of all that he spoke to you.” 18So Samuel told him everything—he did not conceal anythingm from him. Elin said, “He is the LORD. May he do what seems good to him.”

19As Samuel grew, the LORD was with him and did not let any of Samuel’so predictions fail.p 20All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as the LORD’s prophet. 21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because heq revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by means of messages fromr the LORD.