1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called 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 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called 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, Speak, 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 will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that 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 the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared 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: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
<html><b>Was rare.</b> Was withheld,1<i class=“footnote”>It was therefore considered precious and dear [=<span>יָקָר</span>].</i> as in, “and a man of understanding speaks sparingly <span>]</span><span>יֲקר</span><span>[</span>”,2<i class=“footnote”>Mishlei 17:27.</i> meaning that who speaks sparingly is an understanding man. <b>Prophetic vision was not widespread.</b> Prophecy was not revealed.3<i class=“footnote”>Not only were prophetic visions rare in those days, but even when they occurred they were not clear and concise, but rather cryptic and vague. Also, the prophecy that was received was of a private nature and not required by the people, so there was no need to reveal those visions. The prophets therefore kept their experiences to themselves and prophetic vision was rare and not widespread.</i><span>נִפְרָץ</span> is an expression similar to, “and you shall spread [<span>וּפָרַצְתָּ</span>] westward and eastward.4<i class=“footnote”>Bereishis 28:14.</i></html>
<html><b>And Shmuel was lying.</b> In his place, in the court of the Levites who watch in the Temple. According to Targum Yonoson: “And Shmuel was lying in the court of the Levites.” <b>In the Temple of Adonoy.</b> Where the Ark of God was.</html>
<html><b>Adonoy called.</b> And a voice emanated from the Temple of God, from the Holy of Holies, which called, “Shmuel!” The end of the above verse5<i class=“footnote”>As is indicated by the <span>אֶתְנַחְתָּא</span> under the word <span>שֹׁכֵכ</span> to separate it from ‘<span>בְּהֵיכַל ה</span>.</i> is connected to the ==== Verse that follows. This is what is inferred by the verse, “the Lord thunders wonderously with His voice.”6<i class=“footnote”>Iyov 37:5.</i> Eili was a kohein, and was watching from within, while Shmuel was a Levite and lying without. Yet, the voice [of '<span>ה</span>] jumped over Eili to Shmuel.</html>
<html><b>[Shmuel] had not yet known Adonoy.</b> He had not yet recognized the nature of the prophetic voice.7<i class=“footnote”>He was thus unfamiliar with the ways ‘<span>ה</span> calls man, and he therefore thought that the voice was Eili’s.</i> Every time the word '<span>טֶרֶם</span>' appears in Scripture, it means 'not yet,' as rendered by the Targum '<span>עַד לָא</span>' [not yet]. It does not mean 'before.' This ==== Verse proves it. And another [proof of this] is the ==== Verse <span>כִּי טֶרֶם תִּירְאוּן</span> which is rendered as “that you do not yet fear,”8<i class=“footnote”>Shemos 9:30.</i> is a more explicit ==== Verse proving this. Also, <span>וְכֹל שִֹיחַ הַשָֹּדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ</span> [“all plants of the field were not yet on the earth”].9<i class=“footnote”>Bereishis 2:5.</i></html>
<html><b>And Shmuel said, “Speak.”</b> He did not mention the Name of the Deity as Eili had commanded him, because he said [to himself], 'Perhaps it is another voice.'10<i class=“footnote”>See Maseches Shabbos 113b.</i></html>
<html><b>To do something.</b> This refers to the capture of the Ark by the Philistines.11<i class=“footnote”>Also, this may be referring to the destruction of the Mishkon in Shiloh which happened after the Ark was captured.</i> <b>Will ring.</b> An expression similar to [<span>צִלְצָלִים</span>], cymbals, <i>tintiner,</i> in O. F.</html>
<html><b>I will begin to destroy.</b> On that day, My decree upon Eili's family will begin, for Chofni and Pinchas shall die, and from then on, I shall finish my decree and complete it upon them from generation to generation, and cause them to die as young men at the age of eighteen years. <b>I will begin to destroy.</b> <i>Commencant e espleiant,</i> in O. F.</html>
<html><b>That his sons were blaspheming themselves.</b> It should properly state, 'blaspheming Me' but Scripture euphemized.12<i class=“footnote”> See Mechilta Beshalach 15:7 for a listing of other places where Scripture euphemized out of reverence to ‘<span>ה</span>. Ralbag, however, interprets this ==== Verse that “they [Bnei Yisroel] cursed them [the sons of Eili].”</i> <b>Blaspheming.</b> Meaning, acting irreverantly, and similarly, every curse [<span>קְלָלָה</span>] is an expression of irreverence and disgrace. <b>He did not censure.</b> I.e., he did not darken [<span>כהה</span>] their faces by removing them from their high positions.</html>
<html><b>Such shall [God] do to you.</b> Like that very curse, that you shall not have worthy children. And that curse actually befell him even though he did tell him. <b>And did not withhold.</b> From here [the Sages concluded]: A curse of a wise man, even though pronounced on condition, will be realized.13<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Makos 11a.</i></html>
<html><b>He is Adonoy.</b> He is the Master and everything is His.</html>
<html><b>For Adonoy revealed Himself to Shmuel.</b> Because Scripture stated above, “The word of Adonoy was rare in those days,”14<i class=“footnote”>Above 3:1.</i> it states here that from now on, for Shmuel's sake, He revealed Himself repeatedly.15<i class=“footnote”>Not only to Shmuel, but others also began to prophesy.</i></html>