The young boy Samuel served the Lord in front of Eli. In those days, the words of the Lord were scarce, and there was not a lasting revelation.

One day, Eli slept in his own place. He has blurred vision and cannot see clearly.

The lamp of God was not yet extinguished at the ark of the covenant in the temple of God, and Samuel was already asleep.

The Lord called out to Samuel. Samuel said, I am here.

Then he ran to Eli and said, You call me. I am here. Eli replied, “I did not call you, go and sleep.”. He went to sleep.

The Lord called out to Samuel again. Samuel stood up and went to Eli, saying, You call me. I am here. Eli replied, “My son, I did not call you. Go and sleep.”.

At that time, Samuel had not yet known the Lord, nor had he received the revelation of the Lord.

The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel stood up and went to Eli, saying, You have called me again. I am here. Eli then understood that it was the Lord calling out to the boy.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go and sleep. If I call you again, then say, O Lord, speak, and my servant hear. Samuel went and slept in his place.

The Lord came and stood again, calling out three times, saying, Samuel. Samuel. Samuel replied, “Speak up, servant.”.

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘I will do something in Israel that will make everyone who hears of it tingle in their ears.’.

I will always fulfill what I said about the house of Eli at that time.

I once told him that I would punish his family forever, because he knew that his sons were doing evil and he cursed himself, but he did not restrain them.

So I swear to the house of Eli, saying, The iniquities of the house of Eli, even though they offer sacrifices and gifts, shall never be redeemed.

Samuel slept until dawn and opened the door of the Lord’s temple, afraid to tell Eli the prophecy.

Eli called out to Samuel and said, “My son Samuel.”. Samuel replied, “I am here.”.

Eli said, What does the Lord say to you? Do not hide it from me. If you conceal a word that God has said to you, may He punish you severely.

Samuel told Eli everything and did not conceal it. Eli said, This is from the Lord; may he do according to his own will.

Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, so that not a word he said would fail.

All the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba knew that the Lord had appointed Samuel as a prophet.

The Lord appeared again in Shiloh. Because the Lord implied his words to Samuel, Samuel spread these words throughout the land of Israel.