1
|
The boy Samuel was Eli's helper and served the Lord with him. At that time the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions. |
2
|
Eli's eyes were getting so weak that he was almost blind. One night he went to his room to go to bed. |
3
|
The special lamp in the temple was still burning, so Samuel lay down in the temple near where the Holy Box was. |
4
|
The Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, "Here I am." |
5
|
Samuel thought Eli was calling him, so he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." But Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." So Samuel went back to bed. |
6
|
Again the Lord called, "Samuel!" Again Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." |
7
|
Samuel did not yet know the Lord because the Lord had not spoken directly to him before. |
8
|
The Lord called Samuel the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." Finally, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. |
9
|
Eli told Samuel, "Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, Lord. I amyour servant, and I am listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. |
10
|
The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel said, "Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening." |
11
|
The Lord said to Samuel, "I will soon do things in Israel that will shock anyone who hears about them. |
12
|
I will do everything I said I would do against Eli and his family, everything from the beginning to the end. |
13
|
I told Eli I would punish his family forever. I will do this because Eli knew his sons were saying and doing bad things against God. But he failed to control them. |
14
|
That is why I swore an oath that sacrifices and grain offerings will never take away the sins of the people in Eli's family. " |
15
|
Samuel lay down in bed until the morning came. He got up early and opened the doors of the Lord's house. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. |
16
|
But Eli said to Samuel, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Yes, sir." |
17
|
Eli asked, "What did the Lord say to you? Don't hide it from me. God will punish you if you hide anything from the message he spoke to you." |
18
|
So Samuel told Eli everything. He did not hide anything from Eli. Eli said, "He is the Lord. Let him do whatever he thinks is right." |
19
|
The Lord was with Samuel while he grew up. He did not let any of Samuel's messages prove false. |
20
|
Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was a true prophet of the Lord. |
21
|
And the Lord continued to appear to Samuel at Shiloh. He revealed himself to Samuel as the word of the Lord. |
1-Samuel 3:12 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
COMING SOON ...