1 Samuel 3

1The boy Samuel was serving Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was rare in those days; no vision came frequently.

2It happened at that time that Eli lay in his place, his eyes having begun to fail so that he was unable to see.

3And before the lamp of God went out, Samuel lay in Yahweh's temple, where the ark of God was.

4Yahweh called to Samuel, and he said, "Here I am."

5He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." He went and lay down.

6Yahweh called Samuel again. Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He said, "I did not call, my son; go back and lie down."

7Samuel did not yet know Yahweh, nor had the word of Yahweh yet been revealed to him.

8Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli realized that Yahweh was calling the boy.

9Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; if he calls to you, say, 'Speak, Yahweh, for your servant hears.' " Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10Yahweh came and stood, then called as before, "Samuel, Samuel." Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

11Yahweh said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle."

12On that day I will bring about against Eli everything I have spoken to his house, from beginning to end.

13I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were cursing themselves and he did not restrain them.

14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.

15Samuel lay until morning and opened the doors of Yahweh's house, but Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

16Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”

17He said, "What is the thing he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do thus to you, and more besides, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you."

18Samuel told him all the words and concealed nothing from him. He said, "It is Yahweh; let him do what is good in his eyes."

19Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

20All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was faithful as a prophet of Yahweh.

21Yahweh continued to appear in Shiloh, for he made himself known to Samuel in Shiloh by his word.