---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  1 Samuel 3"
description: "CHAPTER 3   :-. THE LORD
APPEARS TO SAMUEL
IN A VISION. 1. the child Samuel ministered unto
the Lord before Eli—His ministry consisted, of course, of such"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/1-samuel/3"
---

CHAPTER 3

. THE LORD
APPEARS TO SAMUEL
IN A VISION.

**1. the child Samuel ministered unto
the Lord before Eli**—His ministry consisted, of course, of such
duties in or about the sanctuary as were suited to his age, which is
supposed now to have been about twelve years. Whether the office had
been specially assigned him, or it arose from the interest inspired
by the story of his birth, Eli kept him as his immediate attendant;
and he resided not *in* the sanctuary, but in one of the tents
or apartments around it, assigned for the accommodation of the
priests and Levites, *his* being near to that of the high
priest.
**the word of the Lord was
precious in those days**—It was very rarely known to the
Israelites; and in point of fact only two prophets are mentioned as
having appeared during the whole administration of the judges
([Judges 4:4](../../../kjv/judges/4/4); [Judges 6:8](../../../kjv/judges/6/8)).
**there was no open vision**—no
publicly recognized prophet whom the people could consult, and from
whom they might learn the will of God. There must have been certain
indubitable evidences by which a communication from heaven could be
distinguished. Eli knew them, for he may have received them, though
not so frequently as is implied in the idea of an "open vision."

**3. ere the lamp of God went out in
the temple of the Lord**—The "temple" seems to have
become the established designation of the tabernacle, and the time
indicated was towards the morning twilight, as the lamps were
extinguished at sunrise (see [Leviticus 6:12](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/12);
[Leviticus 6:13](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/13)).

**5-18. he ran unto Eli, and said,
Here am I; for thou calledst me**—It is evident that his sleeping
chamber was close to that of the aged high priest and that he was
accustomed to be called during the night. The three successive calls
addressed to the boy convinced Eli of the divine character of the
speaker, and he therefore exhorted the child to give a reverential
attention to the message. The burden of [the Lord's message] was an
extraordinary premonition of the judgments that impended over Eli's
house; and the aged priest, having drawn the painful secret from the
child, exclaimed, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him
good." Such is the spirit of meek and unmurmuring submission in
which we ought to receive the dispensations of God, however severe
and afflictive. But, in order to form a right estimate of Eli's
language and conduct on this occasion, we must consider the
overwhelming accumulation of judgments denounced against his person,
his sons, his descendants—his altar, and nation. With such a
threatening prospect before him, his piety and meekness were
wonderful. In his personal character he seems to have been a good
man, but his sons' conduct was flagrantly bad; and though his
misfortunes claim our sympathy, it is impossible to approve or defend
the weak and unfaithful course which, in the retributive justice of
God, brought these adversities upon him.

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