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.
The child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. His ministry consisted, of course, of such duties in or about the sanctuary as were suited to his age, which is supposed now to have been about twelve years. Whether the office had been specially assigned him, or it arose from the interest inspired by the story of his birth, Eli kept him also as his immediate attendant (Michaelis): and he resided not in the sanctuary, but in one of the tents or apartments around it, assigned for the accommodation of the priests and Levites, his being near to that of the high priest, who seems to have been particularly attached to the boy.
The word of the Lord was precious in those days, х yaaqaar (H3368), rare, and therefore precious]. "In those days" implies a contrast between the scarcity of that period and the fullness of revelation at other times, either before or after; and in point of fact only two prophets are mentioned as having appeared during the whole administration of the judges (Judges 4:4; Judges 6:8).
There was no open vision, х nipraats (H6555), spread abroad, common; chaazown (H2377), a vision from God respecting future events, a prophetic vision (Psalms 89:19; Lamentations 2:9; Micah 3:6; Daniel 1:17) - words communicated to a person in a dream (Isaiah 29:7)]. So powerful was the impression made upon the mind by an illusion of the senses, that Samuel thought the sound proceeded from an external voice. And it is evident that the historian considered the voice was wholly the effect of an internal vision, both from the manner in which he introduces the narrative and from 1 Samuel 3:15. "There was no open vision" [Septuagint, ouk een horasis diastellousa] - no publicly recognized prophet whom the people could consult, and from whom they might learn the will of God. There must have been certain indubitable evidences by which a communication from heaven could be distinguished. Eli knew them, because he may have received them, though not so frequently as is implied in the idea of an "open vision."