Self-interpreting Bible

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1 Samuel 3

1The manner in which the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel. 11God sheweth to Samuel the destruction of Eli's house. 15Samuel, commanded by Eli telleth him the vision. 19Samuel is favoured by God, and acknowledged for a prophet in Israel.


1 AND the child Samuel aministered unto the LORD before Eli. And bthe word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no copen vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and dhis eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And eere the lamp of God went out fin the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the LORD gcalled Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5 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.

    6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

      7 1Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

      • 1: Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the LORD, and before the word of the LORD was revealed unto him. Ac. 19.2. , Ac. 19:2

      8 And the LORD hcalled Samuel again the third time. 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.

      9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, iSpeak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

      10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

        11 ¶And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I jwill do a thing in Israel, kat which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

        12 In that day lI will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: 2when I begin, I will also make an end.

        13 3For mI have told him that I will njudge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because ohis sons made themselves 4*vile, pand he 5restrained them not.

        14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, qthat the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

        15 ¶And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of rthe house of the LORD. And Samuel sfeared to shew Eli the vision.

        16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

          17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: tGod do so to thee, and 6more also, if thou hide any 7thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

          18 And Samuel told him 8*every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, uIt is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

          19 ¶And Samuel grew, and vthe LORD was with him, and wdid let none of his words fall to the ground.

          20 And all Israel xfrom Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was 9established to be a prophet of the LORD.

          21 And the LORD yappeared again in zShiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh aby the word of the LORD.