1 Samuel 3

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

3:1 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).

Verse 2

3:2 Eli was almost blind, both physically and spiritually (3:1).

Verse 3

3:3 The priests were responsible for keeping the lamp of God burning through the night (Exod 27:20-21; 30:7-8). • That Samuel was sleeping . . . near the Ark symbolizes his nearness to God’s presence and purpose, in contrast to Eli and his sons.

Verse 7

3:7 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.

Verse 8

3:8 Eli realized: Despite his many shortcomings, Eli was not completely without spiritual insight.

Verse 10

3:10 The doubling of the name calls attention to the seriousness of the moment (cp. Gen 22:11; Exod 3:4; Matt 27:46; Luke 22:31; Acts 9:4). • Samuel omits “Lord” (see 1 Sam 3:9) from his response either out of reverence for the name or because of a lingering uncertainty about who was speaking.

Verse 11

3:11 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; Jer 19:3).

Verse 12

3:12 my threats: See 2:27-36.

Verse 13

3:13 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), but he did not restrain them.

Verse 14

3:14 Neither blood sacrifices nor offerings would be acceptable on behalf of Eli and his sons. The offerings of Lev 4–5 were for sins committed inadvertently or unintentionally, whereas the sins of Eli and his sons were deliberate and rebellious.

Verse 15

3:15 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.

Verse 19

3:19 proved to be reliable: Samuel was an authentic prophet (3:20; see Deut 18:21-22).

Verse 20

3:20 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) made it evident that God was speaking through him.

Verse 21

3:21-4:1a The Lord continued to appear: God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel (cp. 3:1). • Shiloh: See study note on 1:3.