1 Samuel 3:1-14 ▼

1 And the boy Samuel ministered to YHWH before the face of Eli. And the word of YHWH was rare in those days; there was no vision broken forth.

2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place and his eyes had begun to be dim, that he could not see,

3 and the lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of YHWH where there was the ark of God,

4 that YHWH called to Samuel. And he answered, “Behold.”

5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Behold, for you have called me.” And he said, “I did not call. Turn back, lie down.” And he went and lay down.

6 And YHWH added to call again, “Samuel!” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Behold, for you called me.” And He answered, “I did not call, my son. Turn back, lie down.”

7 And Samuel did not know YHWH, and the word of YHWH was not yet revealed to him.

8 And YHWH again called Samuel the third time, and he arose and went to Eli and said, “Behold, for you called me.” And Eli perceived that YHWH had called the boy.

9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall come to pass, if He calls to you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, YHWH, for Your servant is listening.’” And Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And YHWH came and stationed Himself and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

11 And YHWH said to Samuel, “Behold, I am doing a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 In that day I will establish against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house even to forever for the iniquity that he knows, because his sons blasphemed God, and he did not restrain them.

14 And now I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or by offering even to forever.’”