And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision.
Ver. 1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli.] Praemonstrante et instruente eum Eli. Eli being his tutor and teacher, he was tractable and officious, faithful in a little, and therefore intrusted with more, being the next famous prophet to Moses, and called the first. Act 3:24 2Ch 35:18
The word of the Lord was precious in those days.] Heb., Rare. The Hebrews put rarum pro charo: as Proverbs 25:17, "Let thy feet be precious in thy neighbour's house," that is, let them seldom come there. See Psa 74:9 Isaiah 13:12. A prophet was a rare bird; so was once a preacher in this land, and then much more set by. Diaconos paucitas honorabiles fecit. a
There was no open vision.] Heb., Broken. See Judges 7:15, with the note. Prophecy was very scarce.
a Jer., Epist.