1 Samuel 3:3-10 ▼

3 The lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the tent of the LORD where the Ark of God was.

4 The LORD called out to Samuel, who answered, |Here I am.|

5 He ran to Eli and said, |Here I am! You called me.| |I didn't call you,| Eli said. |Go back and lie down.| So he went and lay down.

6 Then the LORD again called out, |Samuel!| So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, |Here I am! You called me.| He said, |I didn't call you, my son. Go back and lie down.|

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD and had not yet had the word of the LORD revealed to him.

8 Then the LORD called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, |Here I am! You called me.| Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy,

9 so Eli told Samuel, |Go lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, 'Speak, LORD, because your servant is listening.'| Then Samuel went and lay down.

10 Later, the LORD came and stood there, calling out, |Samuel! Samuel!| as he had before. Samuel said, |Speak, because your servant is listening.|