﻿1 Samuel.
Chapter 3.
The boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 
At that time Eli was lying down in his place. His eyes had begun to grow dim, and he could not see. 
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. 
The LORD called to Samuel, and 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 and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 
The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel rose, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He said, “I did not call, my son. Go back and 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, a third time. He rose, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. 
Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 
The LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 
The LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of everyone who hears it tingle. 
On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 
I have told him that I am judging his house forever for the iniquity he knew about: his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves, and he did not restrain them. 
Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.” 
Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD, but Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 
Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” 
He said, “What did he say to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide from me a single word of all that he said to you.” 
Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. He said, “He is the LORD. Let him do what is good in his eyes.” 
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. 
