MPV Commentary
Read the modernized Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, aligned with each Bible book and chapter, in clear, updated English.
Currently viewing commentary for 1 Samuel 3
Read the modernized Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, aligned with each Bible book and chapter, in clear, updated English.
Currently viewing commentary for 1 Samuel 3
The Lord Appears to Samuel in a Vision.
Samuel was serving the Lord as a young boy, performing tasks around the sanctuary that were suitable for his age, which is estimated to have been about twelve years old. He lived in one of the tents near the sanctuary, assigned to him by Eli, who treated him like an apprentice and kept him close. The word of the Lord was rare in those days, with only a few prophets known to the Israelites during this period.
There was no publicly recognized prophet or clear indication of God's will among the people. However, Eli must have been familiar with these signs, possibly because he had received them himself, although not as frequently as one might assume.
As morning twilight approached and the lamp in the sanctuary began to fade (Leviticus 6:12-13), Samuel heard a voice calling him. He quickly ran to Eli's chambers, thinking it was the high priest summoning him. This happened three times before Eli realized that the voice was not from a human but from God.
Samuel's sleeping quarters were likely adjacent to Eli's, and he was accustomed to being called during the night. The aged priest recognized the divine character of the speaker after the third call and instructed Samuel to listen carefully to the message. However, the burden of this message was an ominous warning about the impending judgments that would affect Eli's household.
Eli, aware of the severity of these judgments, responded with a spirit of meek submission: "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." This attitude is one we should emulate when facing God's dispensations, no matter how difficult they may be. Nevertheless, it's essential to consider the full scope of the judgments against Eli and his family, including their altar and nation.
Eli's personal character was likely upright, but his sons' behavior was severely flawed. While our sympathies lie with him in this situation, we cannot condone or defend the weak and unfaithful actions that led to these consequences according to God's retributive justice.