1 Samuel 3:4

1Sa 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I.

Ver. 4. That the Lord called Samuel] Gratuita et inopinata est vocatio nostra {Eph 1:11} God calleth his people of free grace, and when they least think of it.

And he answered, Here am I.] A hearing ear is a sweet mercy: a heavy ear, a grievous judgment. {Isa 6:9}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa_3:4-10

Then the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

The child Samuel

Child is not a precise equivalent for the Hebrew word so rendered, which is considerably wider in meaning, and includes adolescence. Samuel was probably a youth when called. He had been growing quietly in ago and goodness, while Elis sons were growing in licentiousness. The two growths are strikingly contrasted in the previous chapter, where, after each statement as to their wickedness, a clause comes in telling how Samuel advanced in his ministry before the Lord. His word was precious, which does not mean highly valued, but seldom heard, because ears were too much clogged with earth, and there was no prophetic vision open--that is, widely spread--because there were few eyes purged to see it. A prophet was needed to arrest the growing evil, and the needed prophet was in training. The best place for a young life to dwell is the temple of God. They that are planted in the house of the Lord will grow fair and straight, and be sheltered from distorting influences, and from many a gnawing enemy that works havoc among the young shoots. A youth that keeps austerely remote from the vileness of Elis sons will be saved from their fate, and will receive messages from the ark as authentic as that which woke Samuel. The Lord called Samuel. No magnificent apocalypse of divine glory shone on the youths opening eyes. Simply his name was spoken in the tone of one bespeaking his attention and about to give him commands. Whoever spoke knew him, claimed authority over him, and had something for him to do. In a word, the speaker was his master, and needed him. God often assimilates His call to the voices with which we are familiar. A stage comes in every young life when the sense of responsibility is wakened, when the thought of a vocation to battle for the truth starts up. Samuels mistake tells a great deal, both as to the nature of the voice he heard and as to his relations to Eli. Evidently he had been accustomed to be roused from sleep, to attend to the old man whose blindness would make him need kindly ministrations. As evidently, he had been accustomed cheerfully to answer the call. His loving readiness to spring from sleep and do whatever was needed, are seen in his running to Eli. No holier office can be entrusted to youth than to care for helpless age; and even if the dependent old man or woman has failings, as Eli had, which the younger hates, the duty of service is still plain, and its blessedness will be the greater, But Samuels mistake has another lesson; for we, too, may think that it is only Eli speaking, when it is really God. There is something very pathetic and beautiful in Elis quick and ungrudging recognition of Gods call to his young attendant. He had had no such communications himself, but he knew them when they came to others. Poor Eli had a bitter pill to swallow when he knew that the boy whom he had trained as his attendant was elevated to the position of a prophet; but he was not offended nor jealous. There is dignity and peace for the old when they heartily acquiesce in the Divine choice of the young to carry his work a stage farther. Samuel had no thought of anything extraordinary, and the explanation of his slowness of apprehension is given in the statement that he did not yet know the Lord, which can only mean that he had not received any Divine communications; for absolute ignorance cannot be supposed in one who had ministered to the Lord all his life. Youth should be slow to believe that its impressions are divine messages. They must be tested well before they are trusted as such. One test, though an imperfect one, is their persistency. When some conviction of duty keeps returning again and again, and forcing us to hear it, we should at least not dismiss it without careful consideration; for it may be the voice of the patient God, who does not let our carelessness silence him. Thy servant heareth--an open ear for Gods commands and revelations will never be left empty. Speak, Lord, is a prayer; and it is never offered in vain when it is accompanied, as Samuels was, by For thy servant hears. Such a disposition is a prevailing reason with God. If we are ready to listen and obey, He is more than ready to speak. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)

The call of Samuel

I. The circumstances of Samuels call.

1. When the state of the Church was in a very low ebb: The word of prophecy was very precious at that time (1Sa_3:1), a prophet was very rare then, and few or none appeared with open vision by name, though mention be made in general of a prophet (Jdg_6:8). And of a man of God before (1Sa_2:27).

2. At that time (1Sa_3:2) when the Lord had sent the day before that Man of God mentioned (1Sa_2:27), with heavy tidings to Eli, then the very next day God calls and sends Samuel with the same sad message.

3. In that time of the natural day (1Sa_3:3), when the lamps of the golden candlestick were not yet extinguished, which had been lighted the evening before (Exo_27:21; Lev_24:8, 2Ch_13:11). So that this was betimes in the morning, and before day that God called Samuel. The place where, in the temple or tabernacle.

II. The substance of this word of prophecy revealed to Samuel.

III. The gracious carriage of this young prophet, when so high and honourable a preferment is put upon him by the Lord.

1. His humility.

2. His modesty, His modesty most appeared, both in his doing the former office of a doorkeeper (opening the doors in the morning), though he were now called of God to be a prophet. And likewise he was not forward, but fearful to reveal the Divine oracle to Eli, which yet he might not conceal (1Sa_3:15).

3. His faithfulness also here is manifest in not hiding anything (of that which God had spoke to him) from his master Eli: He told him every whirl (1Sa_3:18). Though there was not one drachm of comfort in the whole oracle.

IV. Elis reception of this rigid revelation from God by Samuel. Eli was conscious to himself of great guilt, both in his villainous sons, and in himself for indulging their villany, his conscience was a sore conscience, but theirs were seared consciences, and therefore could he presage no good from God; hereupon he advises his pupil to hide nothing from him, but to tell his tutor all that God had told him (1Sa_1:16-17). When Eli had heard Gods severe sentence he calmly crieth, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good (1Sa_3:18), as if he had said the Lord Jehovah hath a sovereign absolute power over all the sons and daughters of men, and may dispose of me and mine, and of all created beings according to his good pleasure, unto which I freely submit, well knowing there be better things in Gods will than in my own. (C. Ness.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. The Lord called Samuel — In an audible voice, by pronouncing his name. Compare Gen_22:1; Exo_3:4.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Josephus writeth that Samuel was 12 years old, when the Lord appeared to him.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 4. The Lord called Samuel] The voice probably came from the holy place, near to which Eli and Samuel were both lying.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

4. Here am I] Heb. Behold me, the regular formula for expressing attention to a call and readiness to obey. Cp. Gen_22:1; Isa_6:8.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Adonoy called. And a voice emanated from the Temple of God, from the Holy of Holies, which called, "Shmuel!" The end of the above verse is connected to the verse that follows. This is what is inferred by the verse, "the Lord thunders wonderously with His voice." Eili was a kohein, and was watching from within, while Shmuel was a Levite and lying without. Yet, the voice [of 'ה] jumped over Eili to Shmuel.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.