The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 3
Chapter III · Vol. II, pp. 633–634
1 How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel. 11 God telleth Samuel the destruction of Eli's house. 15 Samuel, though loath, telleth Eli the vision. 19 Samuel acknowledged as a prophet.
1 And the child Samuel aministered unto the LORD before Eli. And bthe word of the LORD was precious1 in those days; there was no copen vision.
B.C. 1100 or 1120.
a ch.2.11,18; ver.15. Served as a priest in the lower employments.
b Ps.74.9. Mi.3.7. Am.8.11,12. Is.13.12.
A.M. 2904 B.C. 1100
1 'The word of the Lord' means the prophetic word—the word spoken, or in vision revealed to one of the prophets. It was 'precious,' i.e. it was of rare occurrence; 'there was no open vision.' The sins and backslidings of the people had shut out the light of the divine countenance.—P.
c Heb. broken, Ju.7.15.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and dhis eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And eere the lamp of God went out2 in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
e Ex.27.20,21; 30.7,8. Le.24.2,3. 2 Ch.13.11.
2 Ex. 27. 20 requires that the lamps 'should burn always,' and Josephus tells us part of the seven were extinguished in the morning, part burned through the day. Ex. 30. 8 distinctly shows they did not burn all day, as they were lighted in the evening. From this verse it is evident the lamp was allowed to 'go out' by its own burning, and was not extinguished.—C.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Nowg Samuel did not yet know the LORD,3 neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
g Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the LORD, and before the word of the LORD was revealed unto him, Ac.19.2.
3 Did not know him as a speaker to man; though he knew him as a lawgiver, as the God of providence, and hearer of prayer.—C.
8 And the LORD hcalled Samuel again the third time. And he arose, and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.4
h Job 33.14,15.
4 Jehovah speaking to a child! what a picture of condescension! Let infidelity mock if it will. God, who gave man both a tongue and a voice, can surely speak, else he can make a creature more accomplished than the Creator. And if he can speak, assuredly a holy child is a nobler auditor than a hoary sinner.—C.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, iSpeak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called, as at other times, Samuel, Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, Ik will do a thing in Israel, lat which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
l 2 Ki.21.12. Je.19.3. Ps.119.120.
12 In that day mI will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin,5 I will also make an end.
m ch.2.27-36. Zec.1.6. Lu.21.33,35.
5 Heb. beginning and ending.
13 Forn I have told him,6 that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth: because his sons made themselves vile,7 and he orestrained them not.8
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of 9Eli, pthat the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged1 with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
9 Amongst the many purposes subserved by elevated rank, one is the lesson administered by the depth of its fall. Let the kings and judges of the earth therefore 'be wise and kiss the Son.'—C.
p ch.2.25. Nu.15.30. Je.15.1. Eze.24.13. Is.22.14. He.10.26-31.
1 There is no obstruction to the personal salvation of any of Eli's descendants; it lies altogether against their official restoration as a house, and it stands as a warning for ever to every abuser of religious ordinances and official influence.—C.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of qthe house of the LORD. And Samuel rfeared to show Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.2
2 Amongst the characteristic traits of Samuel, one, and not the least worthy of observation, is his continual readiness when called. His uniform answer is—here am I. Let children, who cannot but admire Samuel's success in life, remember that it was founded, under Providence, upon two principles—piety to God, and uniform readiness for duty.—C.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: sGod do so to thee, and 3more also, if thou hide any thing4 from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, tIt is the LORD; let him do what seemeth him good.
19 And Samuel grew, and uthe LORD was with him, and xdid let none of his words fall to the ground.5
u Ge.39.2,21. ch.18.14. Ac.7.9,10. Da 6.21,22. Is.43.2. Ro.8.31. He.13.5,6.
5 Men's hearts were predisposed to listen to him, and God fulfilled his predictions, and realized the soundness of his opinions.—C.
20 And all Israel, yfrom Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established6 to be a prophet of the LORD.
Notes
[Ver. 13. His sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. The charge against Eli is his knowledge of his sons' misconduct, and neglect of restraint. He gave excellent advice, see ch. 2. 23, but it wanted determination and energy. He had allowed his sons to outgrow his authority, and now he pleads with them in vain. C.]
Ver. 17. [God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything. Eli anticipated evil, he remembered the man of God, ch. 2. 27, his conscience smote him, his sons grieved him, he cannot expect good for them as he knows no good of them, and he is anxious to hear the worst. Therefore he says, 'God do so,' &c.; that is, let God inflict all the judgments, and more, upon you than he has threatened against me, if you do not tell me the truth.—Note, This was not an imprecation, but a legal form of appeal to God; for, be it remembered, the same words may be a blasphemy or a prayer according to place, circumstances, and person who utters them. C.]
Reflections.—Dreadful is the case of a church when her fellowship with God is interrupted: but great the mercy, that God raises up new instruments in his church to carry on his work when others have proved unfaithful. Early piety is often honoured with special intimacy with God; when God passes by his aged saints, who have offended him, and perfects praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. But it becomes aged ministers to be well satisfied with the Lord's carrying on his work, even at the expense of dishonouring themselves; and to be ready to assist those whose rising glory may eclipse their own. It is an unspeakable mercy when God repeats his calls to men till he renders them effectual: and promising is the appearance when such extraordinary revelations animate men to the very lowest offices in religion, instead of rendering them proud; especially when humble modesty and exact fidelity meet together. Ministers must often begin their work with fearful denunciations of God's wrath against sinners. Yea, how terribly God judges even the sins of his own people, and of their families! He renders their condition base, tormenting, and in appearance desperate; and the most abundant measure of grace is requisite to render one resigned to such a stroke; yet resignation is the proper and only way to lighten the burden. But frequently he renews his visits to those who had been early seekers of him; and such as improve one gracious visit shall not be long without a second. Yea, the most abundant care shall be taken to honour his faithful servants, and to verify their words in the salvation or destruction of mankind.