1And the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah before Eli . And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days ; there was no frequent vision . 2And it came to pass at that time , when Eli was laid down in his place ( now his eyes had begun to wax dim , so that he could not see ), 3and the lamp of God was not yet gone out , and Samuel was laid down to sleep , in the temple of Jehovah , where the ark of God was ; 4that Jehovah called Samuel : and he said , Here am I . 5And 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 . 6And Jehovah called yet again , Samuel . And Samuel arose and went to Eli , and said , Here am I ; for thou calledst me . And he answered , I called not , my son ; lie down again . 7Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah , neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed unto him . 8And Jehovah called Samuel again the third time . And he arose and went to Eli , and said , Here am I ; for thou calledst me . And Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child . 9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel , Go , lie down : and it shall be , if he call thee , that thou shalt say , Speak , Jehovah ; for thy servant heareth . So Samuel went and lay down in his place . 10And Jehovah came , and stood , and called as at other times , Samuel , Samuel . Then Samuel said , Speak ; for thy servant heareth .
Eli's Role and Recognition
11And Jehovah said to Samuel , Behold , I will do a thing in Israel , at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle . 12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house , from the beginning even unto the end . 13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever , for the iniquity which he knew , because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves , and he restrained them not . 14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli , that the iniquity of Eli ’s house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever . 15And Samuel lay until the morning , and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah . And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision . 16Then Eli called Samuel , and said , Samuel , my son . And he said , Here am I . 17And he said , What is the thing that Jehovah hath spoken unto thee ? I pray thee , hide it not from me : God do so to thee , and more also , if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he spake unto thee . 18And Samuel told him every whit , and hid nothing from him . And he said , It is Jehovah : let him do what seemeth him good .
The Prophecy Against Eli's House
19And Samuel grew , and Jehovah was with him , and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah . 21And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh ; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah .