1 Samuel 3
3:1 a messages ... were very rare ... visions were quite uncommon: God was not disclosing his will through prophets or priests, so the period was spiritually dark. However, that darkness was about to end when God communicated with Samuel (3:2–4:1a b).3:2 c Eli was almost blind, both physically and spiritually (3:1 d).
3:3 e The priests were responsible for keeping the lamp of God burning through the night (Exod 27:20-21 f; 30:7-8 g).
• That Samuel was sleeping ... near the Ark symbolizes his nearness to God’s presence and purpose, in contrast to Eli and his sons.
3:7 h Samuel did not yet know the Lord: He lacked direct experience of the Lord. In contrast, Eli’s sons did not know the Lord (see study note on 2:12) in that they were morally and spiritually deficient.
3:8 i Eli realized: Despite his many shortcomings, Eli was not completely without spiritual insight.
3:10 j The doubling of the name calls attention to the seriousness of the moment (cp. Gen 22:11 k; Exod 3:4 l; Matt 27:46 m; Luke 22:31 n; Acts 9:4 o).
• Samuel omits “Lord” (see 1 Sam 3:9 p) from his response either out of reverence for the name or because of a lingering uncertainty about who was speaking.
3:11 q The phrase a shocking thing conveys the magnitude and severity of God’s judgment. God’s actions would also be of national significance for Israel (cp. 2 Kgs 21:12 r; Jer 19:3 s).
3:12 t my threats: See 2:27-36 u.
3:13 v his sons are blaspheming God: They were expressing contempt for God through their actions.
• hasn’t disciplined them: Eli rebuked his sons (2:23-25 w), but he did not restrain them.
3:14 x Neither blood sacrifices nor offerings would be acceptable on behalf of Eli and his sons. The offerings of Lev 4–5 y were for sins committed inadvertently or unintentionally, whereas the sins of Eli and his sons were deliberate and rebellious.
3:15 z Samuel was afraid to tell Eli of God’s plans for him and his family either because he respected Eli’s position or he feared for his own safety.
3:19 aa proved to be reliable: Samuel was an authentic prophet (3:20 ab; see Deut 18:21-22 ac).
3:20 ad The whole nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, acknowledged that Samuel was God’s prophet.
• confirmed as a prophet: The reliability of Samuel’s message (3:19 ae) made it evident that God was speaking through him.
Summary for 1Sam 3:21-4:1: 3:21-4:1a af The Lord continued to appear: God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel (cp. 3:1 ag).
• Shiloh: See study note on 1:3.
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