1 Samuel 3:2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.

◄ 1 Samuel 3:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.

English Standard Version
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.

New American Standard Bible
It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),

King James Bible
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his room.

International Standard Version
At that time Eli, whose vision was growing dim, was lying down in his bedroom.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see),

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:

Darby Bible Translation
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli lay in his place (now his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see),

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Eli is lying down in his place, and his eyes have begun to be dim -- he is not able to see.

Cross References

Genesis 27:1
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his oldest son, and said to him, My son: and he said to him, Behold, here am I.

Genesis 48:10
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

1 Samuel 4:15
Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

1 Kings 14:4
And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.

Ecclesiastes 12:3
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:1-10 The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to the call. Eli, perceiving that it was the voice of God that Samuel heard, instructed him what to say. Though it was a disgrace to Eli, for God's call to be directed to Samuel, yet he told him how to meet it. Thus the elder should do their utmost to assist and improve the younger that are rising up. Let us never fail to teach those who are coming after us, even such as will soon be preferred before us, Joh 1:30. Good words should be put into children's mouths betimes, by which they may be prepared to learn Divine things, and be trained up to regard them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 3

1Sa 3:1-10. 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 (Jud 4:4; 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."