Samuel’s First Prophecy
1 Nowthe boy Samuel ministered to theLordbefore Eli. Andthe word of theLordwas rare in those days;therewasno widespread revelation.
2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eliwaslying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to growso dim that he could not see,
3 and beforethe lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of theLordwhere the ark of Godwas,and while Samuel was lying down,
4 that theLordcalled Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”
5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
6 Then theLordcalled yet again, “Samuel!”
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”
7 (Now Samueldid not yet know theLord, nor was the word of theLordyet revealed to him.)
8 And theLordcalled Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that theLordhad called the boy.
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say,‘Speak,Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now theLordcame and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
11 Then theLordsaid to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israelat which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eliall that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
13 For I have told him that I willjudge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, becausehis sons made themselves vile, and hedid not restrain them.
14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s houseshall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
15 So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of theLord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
17 And he said, “Whatisthe word thattheLordspoke to you? Please do not hideitfrom me.God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.”
18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said,“ItistheLord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”
19 So Samuelgrew, andtheLordwas with himand let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israelfrom Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuelhadbeenestablished as a prophet of theLord.
21 Then theLordappeared again in Shiloh. For theLordrevealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh bythe word of theLord.