And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
Ver. 8. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.] There was a special providence in it, that Samuel should thus run to Eli three several times, that he might surely know it to be a divine revelation, and be affected with it. Whereas else he might have slighted it as a childish dream; or have thought it strange that God should use the pupil to instruct the tutor. a
a P. Martyr.