39 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 3 This chapter gives an account of the Lord's calling to Samuel in the night season, which he first took for the voice of Eli, but being instructed by him, made answer to the voice, 1 Samuel 3:1, and of a message sent from him by Samuel to Eli, foretelling the destruction of his family, 1 Samuel 3:11 and of the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli,.... Under his direction and instruction; the Targum is, in the life of Eli, and in such parts of service, relating to the tabernacle of the Lord, as he was capable of, such as opening and shutting the doors of it, lighting the lamps, singing the praises of God, c. according to Josephus (n),...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In the foregoing chapter we had Samuel a young priest, though by birth a Levite only, for he ministered before the Lord in a linen ephod; in this chapter we have him a young prophet, which was more, God in an extraordinary manner revealing himself to him, and in him reviving, if not commencing, prophecy in Israel. Here is, I. God's first...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 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; and ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. Samuel was but a child, yet he was a faithful servant of God up to the light he had received. The grown-up sons of Eli were rebelling against God, but “the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord.” It is a great aggravation of sin for ungodly men to persist in it when even little children...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it came to pass at that time,.... When the word of the Lord was scarce and precious, and there was no open vision; or, as Ben Gersom, the same day the man of God came to Eli at night, the following affair happened: when Eli was laid down in his place; on his bed to sleep, in one of the chambers or apartments of the tabernacle; for as there...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
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; He was a good old man, but he was almost worn out, and he had been unfaithful to God in not keeping his family right. He must have found some comfort in having such a sweet and dear companion and servant as little Samuel was.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord,.... The tabernacle so called; lamp is put for the lamps in the candlestick in the tabernacle, which were lighted every evening, and burnt till morning; by which time some of them at least usually went out, only it is said the western lamp never went out. Now the reason why this is...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. Servants and children are to be...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
That the Lord called Samuel,.... By a voice which came forth from the most holy place, from between the cherubim, the seat of the divine Majesty: and he answered, here am I; which was not intended to declare the place where he was, but to express his readiness and cheerfulness to do any thing that was required of him.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he ran unto Eli, and said here [am] I,.... He got out of his bed as fast as he could, and put on his clothes, and ran with all haste to the apartment where Eli lay, supposing he wanted some immediate assistance, which he was there ready to give him to the utmost of his ability; and he made the more haste, as knowing his age and infirmities,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the Lord called yet again, Samuel,.... Called him a second time by his name, with a like audible voice as before: and Samuel arose, and went to Eli; did not run as before, being perhaps more thoughtful of this affair, that he should be called a second time, and careful not to awake Eli, should he be mistaken again, and find him asleep: and...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. He felt sure of it, confident that he had not been mistaken.
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord. There was the Beginning of the work of grace in his heart, he was well-intentioned; but as yet God had not revealed himself to him: “Samuel did not yet know the Lord,” —
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord,.... He knew that Jehovah, the God of Israel, was the true God; he had spiritual knowledge of him, and knew somewhat of his word and worship, ways and ordinances, in which he had been instructed by Eli; wherefore, though the Targum is, "Samuel had not yet learned to know doctrine from the Lord;'' it can only be...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. We do not blame Samuel, for he was but a child, and spiritual understanding had not yet fully come to him; but what shall I say of some to whom God has spoken for years till their hair is gray, and yet they have not understood the voice of the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time,.... In the same manner he had done before, expressing his name no doubt: and he arose and went to Eli, and said, here am I, for thou didst call me; as if he should say, it must certainly be so, I cannot be mistaken a third time: and Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child; he was satisfied...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. It was a chastisement to Eli that God...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, go, lie down,.... Once more; and it shall be, if he call thee; the voice, or the Lord by it: that thou shalt say, speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth; his meaning is, that he should not rise and come to him, as he had done, but continue on his bed, on hearing the voice again, but desire the Lord to speak to him...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the Lord came, and stood,.... At the place where Samuel lay; either there was, as Kimchi, a form before his eyes in the vision of prophecy, some visible corporeal shape assumed; or a bright splendour an illustrious appearance of the glory of God; or it may be rather the voice, which before seemed to be at some distance whereabout Eli lay; it...