Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 3

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 3:1, How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel; 1 Samuel 3:11, God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli’s house; 1 Samuel 3:15, Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision; 1 Samuel 3:19, Samuel grows in credit.

Verse 1

the child: 1 Samuel 3:15, 1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Samuel 2:18

the word: 1 Samuel 3:21, Psalms 74:9, Isaiah 13:12, Amos 8:11, Amos 8:12

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 1:22 - and there Proverbs 29:18 - there Isaiah 22:1 - of vision Matthew 20:2 - he sent Acts 3:24 - Samuel Hebrews 11:32 - Samuel

Verse 2

his eyes: 1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Samuel 4:15, Genesis 27:1, Genesis 48:19, Psalms 90:10, Ecclesiastes 12:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:10 - the eyes 1 Kings 14:4 - for his eyes Ecclesiastes 12:2 - the sun

Verse 3

ere: Before sun-rise: for it is probable the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun; see the parallel passages.

the lamp: Exodus 27:20, Exodus 27:21, Exodus 30:7, Exodus 30:8, Leviticus 24:2-4, 2 Chronicles 13:11

the temple: 1 Samuel 1:6, Psalms 5:7, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 29:9

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 1:9 - General

Verse 4

called Samuel: Genesis 22:1, Exodus 3:4, Psalms 99:6, Acts 9:4, 1 Corinthians 12:6-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Galatians 1:15, Galatians 1:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:16 - and I Genesis 31:11 - Here am I Genesis 37:13 - Here am I Genesis 46:2 - Jacob Leviticus 24:2 - that they 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other 1 Samuel 3:21 - the word Isaiah 58:9 - Here Matthew 11:25 - and hast Acts 9:5 - Who Acts 9:10 - Behold

Verse 6

1 Samuel 4:16, Genesis 43:29, 2 Samuel 18:22, Matthew 9:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:11 - Here am I Exodus 3:4 - Moses Ruth 2:8 - my daughter 1 Samuel 25:8 - thy son John 20:16 - Mary

Verse 7

Now Samuel: Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.

did not yet: Samuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel, but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets. Jeremiah 9:24, Acts 19:2

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 2:12 - knew

Verse 8

the third: Job 33:14, Job 33:15, although Samuel did not apprehend the way in which God reveals himself to his servants the prophets - by the "still small voice" - yet when this direct communication from the Almighty was made the third time, in a way altogether new and strange to him, it seems astonishing that he did not immediately apprehend. Perhaps he would have been sooner aware of a divine revelation, had it come in a dream or a vision. Those who have the greatest knowledge of divine things, should remember the time when they were as babes, unskilful in the word of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Corinthians 13:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:11 - Here am I Genesis 37:13 - Here am I Exodus 3:4 - Moses 1 Samuel 3:10 - as at other Acts 9:10 - Behold

Verse 9

Speak: Exodus 20:19, Psalms 85:8, Isaiah 6:8, Daniel 10:19, Acts 9:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 5:14 - What saith

Verse 10

the Lord came: This seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.

as at other: 1 Samuel 3:4-6, 1 Samuel 3:8, Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word: he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:11 - Abraham Genesis 46:2 - Jacob Exodus 3:4 - Moses Joshua 5:14 - What saith Daniel 10:19 - Let John 20:16 - Mary Acts 10:4 - What Acts 22:7 - Saul

Verse 11

I will do: Isaiah 29:14, Amos 3:6, Amos 3:7, Habakkuk 1:5, Acts 13:41

both the ears: 2 Kings 21:12, Isaiah 28:19, Jeremiah 19:3, Luke 21:26

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 4:1 - came 1 Samuel 4:17 - Israel Job 41:9 - shall Jeremiah 28:8 - prophesied

Verse 12

I will perform: 1 Samuel 2:27-36, Numbers 23:19, Joshua 23:15, Zechariah 1:6, Luke 21:33

when I begin: etc. Heb. beginning and ending

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:35 - a plague Judges 4:24 - prospered 1 Samuel 2:34 - a sign 1 Samuel 4:18 - his neck 1 Samuel 22:18 - fourscore 1 Kings 2:27 - that he 2 Kings 15:37 - began Jeremiah 30:24 - fierce Ezekiel 21:5 - it shall Hosea 4:6 - I will also Nahum 1:9 - he Titus 1:6 - having

Verse 13

For I have told him: or, And I will tell him, etc. 1 Samuel 2:27-30, 1 Samuel 2:31-36

I will: 2 Chronicles 20:12, Ezekiel 7:3, Ezekiel 18:30, Joel 3:12

which he knoweth: 1 Kings 2:44, Ecclesiastes 7:22, 1 John 3:20

his sons: 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 2:17, 1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Samuel 2:23-26

vile: or, accursed

restrained them not: Heb. frowned not upon them, 1 Samuel 2:23-25, 1 Kings 1:6, Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 23:13, Proverbs 23:14, Proverbs 29:15, Matthew 10:37

Reciprocal: Leviticus 20:4 - and kill Leviticus 21:9 - the daughter Judges 18:7 - magistrate 1 Samuel 1:3 - And the 1 Samuel 4:18 - his neck 1 Samuel 9:17 - reign over 1 Samuel 12:2 - my sons 2 Chronicles 14:4 - commanded Psalms 109:13 - Let his Proverbs 24:25 - them Daniel 11:21 - a vile person Nahum 1:14 - for 1 Timothy 3:5 - if Titus 1:6 - having Hebrews 12:7 - for what

Verse 14

the iniquity: 1 Samuel 2:25, Numbers 15:30, Numbers 15:31, Psalms 51:16, Isaiah 22:14, Jeremiah 7:16, Jeremiah 15:1, Ezekiel 24:13, Hebrews 10:4-10, Hebrews 10:26-31

Reciprocal: Leviticus 9:7 - offer thy Leviticus 20:4 - and kill Leviticus 21:9 - the daughter Joshua 24:19 - he will not Malachi 2:12 - and him

Verse 15

opened: 1 Samuel 1:9, Malachi 1:10

Samuel: Samuel reverenced Eli as a father, and feared to distress him by shewing what God had purposed to do. It does not appear that God commanded Samuel to deliver this message; he therefore did not attempt it till adjured by Eli. It might be supposed that Samuel would have been so full of ecstasy as to have forgotten his ordinary service, and run amongst his friends to tell them of the converse he had with God in the night, but he modestly keeps it to himself. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed on the house-top.

feared: Jeremiah 1:6-8, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 1 Corinthians 16:11

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 2:11 - minister 1 Samuel 3:1 - the child 1 Chronicles 9:27 - the opening Esther 6:12 - came again Daniel 8:27 - and did

Verse 16

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:11 - Here am I Genesis 37:13 - Here am I Ruth 2:8 - my daughter 1 Samuel 12:2 - my sons

Verse 17

I pray thee: Psalms 141:5, Daniel 4:19, Micah 2:7

God: 1 Samuel 20:13, Ruth 1:17, 2 Samuel 3:35, 2 Samuel 19:13, 1 Kings 22:16, Matthew 26:63

more also: Heb. so add

thing: or, word

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:17 - What 1 Samuel 25:22 - So and more 2 Samuel 3:9 - So do God 2 Samuel 14:18 - Hide not 2 Kings 6:31 - God do so Jeremiah 38:14 - I will Jeremiah 42:4 - I will keep

Verse 18

every whit: Heb. all the things, or, words, Whit, or wid, comes from the Anglo-Saxon wiht, which signifies person, thing, etc.: every whit is every thing: equivalent to every jot.

It is the Lord: Genesis 18:25, Judges 10:15, 2 Samuel 16:10-12, Job 1:21, Job 2:10, Psalms 39:9, Isaiah 39:8, Lamentations 3:39, 1 Peter 5:6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 10:3 - Aaron Joshua 9:25 - as it seemeth 1 Samuel 22:3 - till I know 2 Samuel 10:12 - the Lord 2 Samuel 14:18 - Hide not 2 Samuel 15:26 - let 2 Kings 4:26 - It is well 2 Kings 20:19 - Good 1 Chronicles 19:13 - let the Lord Jeremiah 34:6 - General Jeremiah 38:14 - I will Jeremiah 42:4 - I will keep Daniel 4:35 - and he Jonah 4:8 - and wished Micah 7:9 - bear Acts 21:14 - The will James 4:7 - Submit

Verse 19

grew: 1 Samuel 2:21, Judges 13:24, Luke 1:80, Luke 2:40, Luke 2:52

the Lord: 1 Samuel 18:14, Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:21-23, Isaiah 43:2, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:28, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 2 Timothy 4:22

let none: 1 Samuel 9:6, 1 Kings 8:56, Isaiah 44:26

Reciprocal: Joshua 23:14 - not one thing 1 Samuel 12:2 - I have walked 1 Samuel 16:18 - the Lord 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth 2 Kings 3:12 - The word 2 Kings 10:10 - fall unto the earth Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Ezekiel 33:33 - when

Verse 20

Dan: Judges 20:1, 2 Samuel 3:10, 2 Samuel 17:11

established: or, faithful, 1 Timothy 1:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:1 - Beersheba 1 Samuel 9:6 - all that he saith 1 Samuel 12:2 - I have walked 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth 1 Chronicles 21:2 - Beersheba Ezekiel 33:33 - when Amos 2:11 - I raised Luke 1:80 - the child Acts 3:24 - Samuel Acts 13:20 - until

Verse 21

And the Lord: Wyyoseph yehowah lehairaoh, "And Jehovah added to appear:" that is, He continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh.

appeared: Genesis 12:7, Genesis 15:1, Numbers 12:6, Amos 3:7, Hebrews 1:1

the word: 1 Samuel 3:1, 1 Samuel 3:4

Reciprocal: Matthew 20:2 - he sent