The LORD Calls Samuel

3 And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli.

Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare and visions were scarce. 2 And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.

3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

4 Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”

5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

So he went and lay down.

6 Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!”

So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

“My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, because the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.”

Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. 9 “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ ”

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. 12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his family, from beginning to end. 13 I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God [fn] and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’ ”