The Continued Faithfulness Of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1 a).
Meanwhile, while all this is going on, Samuel continues on in his faithful service of YHWH without wavering. Samuel stands out like a shining light against the dark background of Eli's priestly family and their behaviour (and is a credit to Eli).
‘And the child Samuel ministered to YHWH before Eli.'
There was no blip in Samuel's service. He continued faithfully to serve YHWH. And he did it under Eli's jurisdiction and guidance. So God had not overlooked what was good in Eli, and He had entrusted to his care the one in whom His coming purposes would be fulfilled. It was not so much Eli himself who was rejected, but his family line.
Chapter 3.
God now informs Samuel himself of what He will do to the house of Eli. As a result from this time on Samuel is himself to be seen, even at a young age, as a ‘man of God' who can be entrusted with YHWH's message (1 Samuel 3:2-18). And in this chapter we then see a ‘flash forward' of his sprouting forth as a prophet of YHWH, ‘And Samuel grew and YHWH was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of YHWH. And YHWH appeared again in Shiloh, for YHWH revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of YHWH. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel' (1 Samuel 3:19 to 1 Samuel 4:1 a).
Samuel's Vision And Its Consequences (1 Samuel 3:1 to 1 Samuel 4:1 a)
In this passage we are shown the huge transformation that takes place as a result of Samuel's presence at Shiloh. It commences with a situation where there is no frequent vision, and ends with Samuel revealing YHWH's word to all Israel. It must indeed have seemed at the time as though Samuel was the faithful Priest whom YHWH would raise up (2:35). He certainly fulfilled most of the requirements as the adopted son of Eli. But it is noteworthy that Samuel never himself made any claim to be High Priest, nor ever sought to act as such. He acted as a priest, a judge and a prophet, but never as the High Priest of the Tabernacle. That position was reserved for others who were trueborn sons of Aaron. YHWH would be faithful to His promise to Aaron.
We may analyse the chapter as follows:
a And the word of YHWH was precious in those days. There was no frequent vision (1 Samuel 3:1 b).
b And it came about on that day, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see), and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, in the temple of YHWH, where the ark of God was, that YHWH called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am”. And he ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. And YHWH called yet again, “Samuel.” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again” (1 Samuel 3:2-6).
c Now Samuel did not yet know YHWH, nor was the word of YHWH yet revealed to him' (1 Samuel 3:7).
d And YHWH called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And Eli perceived that YHWH had called the child. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you will say, “Speak, YHWH; for your servant is listening.” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And YHWH came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:8-10).
e And YHWH said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one who hears it will tingle” (1 Samuel 3:11 a).
f In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end” (1 Samuel 3:11-12).
g “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he did not restrain them” (1 Samuel 3:13).
f “And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever” (1 Samuel 3:14).
e And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of YHWH. And Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision (1 Samuel 3:15).
d Then Eli called Samuel, and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” And he said, “What is the thing that YHWH has said to you? I pray you, do not hide it from me: God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he said to you”. And Samuel told him every detail, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is YHWH. Let him do what seems good to him” (1 Samuel 3:16-18).
c And Samuel grew, and YHWH was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
b And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of YHWH (1 Samuel 3:20).
a And YHWH appeared again in Shiloh; for YHWH revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh in the word of YHWH. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel (1 Samuel 3:21 to 1 Samuel 4:1 a).
Note that in ‘a' the word of YHWH was rare and precious and there was no vision published abroad, and in contrast in the parallel the word of YHWH came to Samuel, and through him to all Israel. In ‘b' YHWH calls to Samuel twice, and in the parallel he was established as a prophet of YHWH. In ‘c' Samuel had not yet had the word of YHWH revealed to him, and in contrast in the parallel Samuel grew and YHWH was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. In ‘d' Eli perceived that YHWH had called Samuel and told him to listen to what YHWH had to say, and in the parallel. Samuel tells Eli every detail of what YHWH had said. In ‘e' YHWH tells Samuel that what He has to tell him will make every ear tingle, and in the parallel Samuel is afraid to give the details to Eli. In ‘f' YHWH says He will perform against Eli all that He has spoken concerning his house from beginning to end, and in the parallel the iniquity of Eli's house would not be expiated for ever. Centrally in ‘g' is given the reason for the curse on the house of Eli.
The Situation (1 Samuel 3:1 b).
‘And the word of YHWH was precious in those days. There was no vision published abroad.'
Preparatory to what is to happen to Samuel the writer describes the parlous situation in which Israel finds itself. The word of YHWH was precious because it was so rare. There was ‘no vision published abroad'; compare 4:1a. God had almost stopped speaking to His people. During the long judgeship of Eli, and especially towards its latter end, the voice of YHWH had been virtually silent. And even before that (if it was before it) it had been silent since the birth of Samson. The behaviour of those who should have been the means of speaking to His people had made it impossible. Indeed in the whole of the time of the Judges we have only two references to a prophet (Judges 4:4; Judges 6:8). It was true that God still delivered His people, but they received no ‘word from YHWH'.