1 Samuel Chapter 5 Part One (Verses 1-5)

The Ark of the Covenant among the Philistines

A. The Ark in the Philistine city of Ashdod
1. (1 Sam 5:1-5) God humiliates the idol Dagon
Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when the arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

A silent interlude?: Based on Psalm 78:60-64, Jeremiah 7:12 and Jeremiah 26:9, we are told Shiloh is destroyed. Many commentators believe Shiloh's destruction happened after the Philistines defeated the Israelites at Aphek. After capturing the Ark of God, many believe the Philistines continued their military campaign to Shiloh and destroyed the city and tabernacle.

Ashdod: Known as Azotus in Greek (as referenced in Acts 8:40), Ashdod was one of the five Philistine governing cities (the other four being Gath, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gaza). It was located near the Mediterranean Sea on a hilltop about 35 miles west of Jerusalem. It was a place of great strength and had special importance because it was located on the high road between Syria and Egypt. It was assigned to the tribe of Judah in Joshua 15:47, but was never conquered until the reign of Uzziah around 800 B.C. ("Now he [Uzziah] went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines" 2 Chronicles 26:6.)

Dagon: Dagon was the chief god of the Philistines, and the worship of this pagan god dates back to 3000 B.C. Dagon was worshiped widely in Syria, Mesopotamia and Chaldea. Dagon was represented as half man and half fish. (Dag in Hebrew means fish.) According to ancient mythology, Dagon was the father of Baal and was the emblem of fruitfulness. The god Dagon is mentioned three times in the Bible. The first mention of Dagon is in Judges 16:23: "Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, 'Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.'" In additional to 1 Samuel 5, the temple of Dagon is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 10:10, in which the head of King Saul was fastened to after the King Saul died in battle at Mount Gilboa fighting the Philistines. ("And they [the Philistines] put his [Saul's] armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon" (1 Chronicles 10:10).)

An interesting side note: Dagon is also mentioned indirectly in the Book of Jonah. Although the deity is not mentioned by name, the Assyrians in Nineveh worshiped Dagon. Jonah decided not to go directly to Nineveh. Instead, he fled via boat in the opposite direction to go to Tarshish. God conveniently arranges alternative transportation for Jonah--a giant fish! After spending three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, Jonah is vomited onto dry land. Jonah then decides to go to Nineveh. Jonah's arrival in Nineveh would have created quite a splash! The Ninevites, who worshiped a fish god, would have had been hooked on Jonah's fish story...and believing Jonah and his message, the city of Nineveh repents and is spared God's wrath.

Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD: This is one of my favorite parts of the Bible!!! It is such a funny story about man's idols versus God. Whenever I read this part of Scripture, Psalm 135:15-18 comes to mind: "The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, the work of man's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them." Man builds a great idol from silver, gold or wood and assumes because he made it his idol, it will be endowed with magical powers to deliver him from his enemies. However, only God can truly deliver us from our adversaries.

Furthermore, God does not need man to glorify Him. When the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the hilistines, the Israelites lamented that the glory of God had departed. Actually, God's glory never went anywhere. He was still seat on His throne and more than able to glorify Himself. And that is exactly what He does. God causes the Philistines' god to bow down and worship Him! I cannot imagine the horror which overtook the Philistines and the multitude of excuses they must have concocted: the wind must have blown over Dagon, a small earthquake must have knocked Dagon to the ground, someone must have slipped in to clean the temple and forgot to put Dagon back in his place, etc.

These Philistines, like men confronted with the truth today, rejected God , despite the evidence. The wanted to believe Dagon being found on the ground was an accident. But how would they believe something so ridiculous? Because woshipping the LORD instead of Dagon meant giving up their traditions and rituals. They would have had to put away their idols and worship the one true God. Like the Philistines, most people today find this too big of a challenge to accept and instead give even more reverence and power to worthless man-made idols. Gluing Dagon back together again was easier to do than changing their lives and thinking.

The head of Dagon and both his palms were cut off: I feel like this story is a giant crescendo of God's glory. The story keeps building upon itself to reveal God's majesty. The first day, the Philistines knocked off his pedestal. Now day two, and even stranger situation; Dagon has his head and arms cut off. If the Philistines thought the first incidence was a fluke, I am sure now they were shaking in their sandals. The head is viewed as the place of wisdom; the hands are thought to represent the instruments of action. Since both these body parts are cut off, this shows the Philistines that Dagon possessed wisdom nor strength to defend himself or his worshipers against the Almighty God.

The threshold: Dating back several thousands of years, many cultures around the world believe that evil spirits dwell at the threshold of a house or building. Even today, this superstition continues. After the wedding, a groom often carried his wife across the threshold. (The reason being a woman's sole of her foot is more susceptible to being overtaken by evil spirits than a man's.) Also, in Russia and Poland, it is superstitious bad luck to shake hands or kiss over the threshold. Although no exact origin can be sited, many believe the threshold superstition dates back to this incident. If you found your idol god's cut up body parts on the threshold and bowing down to another god, it certainly would elicit many fears about the power of the threshold...and that is exactly what we are told: Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

1 Samuel Chapter 4 Part Two (Verses 12-21)

B. Israel's great anguish at the loss of the Ark

1. (1 Sam 4:12-18) Eli hears the loss of the Ark of the covenant and dies.

Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching, because his heart was trembling for the ark of God. So the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out. When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What does the noise of this commotion mean?" Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see. The man said to Eli, "I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today. And he said, "How did things go, my son?" Then the one who brought the news replied, "Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons  also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years.

A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh: The distance from Ebenezer to Shiloh was probably not more than twenty miles, a distance a swift runner could easily run and arrive the same evening. According to Rabbincal tradition, the messenger was Saul, who snatched away from Goliath the two tablets of the Law taken out of the Ark of the covenant in order to save them and fled away on foot.

His clothes torn and dust on his head: These were the usual signs or mourning (see Joshua 7:6, Job 2:12 and Ezekiel 27:30). And they were by the messengers that the news they carried was one of sorrow and bad tidings to the people.

Eli was sitting by his seat...his heart was trembling for the ark of God: Eli anxiously waited back at in Shiloh for news of the battle. Eli is rightly more concerned about the fate of the ark than the fate of his sons. Why is he so nervous? He might have been as foolishly confident as the soldiers of Israel were when the Ark of the Covenant came into their camp (1 Samuel 4:5) to allow the Ark to be taken into battle. Eli knows he has let the ark go on an unwise, superstitious errand, and his conscience makes him fear it will end in disaster.

What does the noise of this commotion mean?: Eli, being old and blind, was sitting along the road probably surrounded by priests and Levites who ministered to Eli, who was the high priest and judge. With torn clothes and dust sprinkled on his head, these signs would have become visible as the runner draws closer and closer to Shiloh. A wave of wailing would have erupted throughout Shiloh as more and more people see the runner clothed with the signs of disaster and hear the news he carries. The word translated commotion is the Hebrew word "hamown" which better translates as a murmur made by a multitude of people. It expresses the babel of voices which Eli would have heard as the townspeople started clamoring in distress when they heard the news the messenger carries.

How did things go, my son?: The news Eli is about to receive goes from bad to worse. There is a crescendo of bad news, with each blow heavier than the preceding one. Israel has fled before the Philistines (bad news) and there has been a great slaughter among the people (really bad news), and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead (really, really bad news), and the ark of God has been taken (Oy vey! The worst news of all!!!).

Eli fell off the seat backward: Eli has been plagued with much bad news in his life; yet, he always seems to be able to handle the calamities. Eli bears the announcement and degradation of his family line; he could endure the Word of the LORD coming to another person, Samuel as a boy, an act which signified God preferred Samuel over Eli who was the high priest and judge. Eli could bear to hear about the defeat and ruin of a nation which he had so long ruled and which he loved. Even the news of the deaths of his sons, Eli could listen to with sad resignation. But, when Eli heard the Ark of God was taken, his heart broke. This final piece of news was too much for Eli. Despite all his faults, Eli was still a servant of God.

God had promised that Eli's two sons were to die on the same day as a sign of judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34), but God had not announced the promise that Eli would also die the same day. God tells us much in prophecy, but not everything. Some of it is only seen in its fullness after it has already happened.

2. (1 Sam 4:19-22) More tragedy for the house of Eli

Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she head the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or pay attention. And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because he ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken."

Phinehas's wife: The wife of Phinehas seems to have been a person of piety. Her dying regret was for the loss of the Ark of God and for the departure of the glory from Israel. Poor, poor girl! My heart aches for Phinehas's wife. Being pregnant and about ready to give birth, she hears of the death of her husband, her brother-in-law, her father-in-law, a slaughter among the soldiers of Israel, a lost battle, and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant all on one day! The anguish is too great for her, and she gives birth.

And she called the boy Ichabod: For a Jewish woman, news that a son had been born was wonderful news. But not for the wife of Phinehas on this day. To reflect her anguish, and the national tragedy upon Israel, she names the child Ichabod, which literally translates "no glory". In great sorrow for the loss of the Ark, Phinehas's wife names her son after this great tragedy.

The glory has departed from Israel: The glory of God, displayed by His presence in the Ark of the Covenant, had departed from Israel. The Philistines now held it. But had the glory of God truly departed? In one sense, yes. The glory left when Israel stopped repenting and trusting God and started superstitiously trusting in the Ark itself. The glory of God had already departed, but not because the Ark of God had been captured; the Ark had been captured because the glory had already departed.

Tragically, the same could be said of many churches, many ministries, and many Christians--the glory has departed. There are still priests, there is still a place of worship, but God is not enthroned in glory among them. Many churches are like the church at Laodicea. They are neither hot or cold but lukewarm. And God promises to vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16). Furthermore, God is standing outside the church, knocking, wanting to come in! "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). You could write Ichabod across many churches, many ministries, many individual Christian lives!

How could God allow something so terrible like the capturing of the Ark by the Philistines to happen? First, He allowed it as a righteous judgment upon Israel as a nation and the family of Eli. They simply received what they deserved. Secondly, God allowed it as a correction to the nation--so they would not trust in the Ark of God, instead of trusting in the God of the Ark. Finally, though it seemed terrible to man, was it all that terrible to God? At this moment, was God wringing His hands in heaven, worried about how things would turn out? Worried about His own reputation? Worried about the Philistines and their gods? Looking at it this way, the glory had not departed at all. God was just beginning to show His glory.

Many circumstances and situations we regard as a calamity, but God uses these events to glorify Himself. Israel was right to be sad at the loss of life and the Ark on that day. But they should have had confidence, knowing God was well able to take care of Himself and would again reveal His glory both to the nation of Israel and the world.

1 Samuel Chapter 4 Part One (Verses 1-11)

A. The Ark is captured

1. (1 Sam 4:1-2) Israel is defeated by the Philistines
Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. 

Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel: This clause is most likely incorrectly placed. And in the Latin Vulgate and the Syriac texts, this clause belongs with the last verse of Chapter 3. Verse 21 of Chapter 3 should be: "And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel." Attaching this clause to the fourth chapter gives a wrong pretense, mainly that Samuel gave the command for all Israel to assemble for battle against the Philistines.

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle: Now after we have been introduced to the main characters in this part of Scripture, God picks the narrative right back up where He left off. The period of the Judges ends with Samson fighting against the Philistines. Samson was lead astray from his mission of destroying the Philistines by women, but during his last act of faith, he kills several thousand Philistines (Judges 16:27-30). However, not all the Philistines were killed. During the early years of Eli's priesthood, it is likely the Philistines used this time to re-group (and re-populate) their diminished army. Now, the Philistines have grown in numbers and are set to once again resume their campaigns against Israel. The Philistines were a formidable force because they were the first in the land of Canaan to use and perfect iron smithing in creating military equipment--swords, shields, helmets, etc.

Ebenezer: This translates as "the stone of help". The name is not actually given to the location until 20 years later when the Israelites have a great victory over the Philistines and in celebration, set up a stone to commemorate the event. ("The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the LORD has helped us'" (1 Samuel 7:11-12).)

Aphek: This translates as "stronghold" or "fortress". The Philistine camp would have been located in Judah, near Mizpah and Ebenezer.

2. (1 Sam 4:3-4) The elders of Israel respond with a superstitious trust in the Ark.
When the people came into the camp, the elders said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies." So the people went sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Why has the LORD defeated us today: The Israelites express surprise that they lost this battle. They have an attitude of expected victory and are surprised God has allowed them to be defeated. Instead of seeking the LORD with prayer and asking for intercession by Eli, his sons and/or Samuel, the elders hatch a brilliant plan (absent of God's approval) to guarantee a victory against the Philistines. If only the elders of Israel would have taken counsel from their ancestors such as Joshua, they would have been instructed in the way they should go. ("Joshua said, 'Alas, O Lord GOD, why did you ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the generations of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?' So the LORD said to Joshua, 'Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them...therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies" (Joshua 7:7-12).

Ark of the covenant: This was the representation of the throne of God among the people of Israel. Kept in the holy of holies in the tabernacle, it was never seen by the people. Only the high priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) would enter the holy of holies and see the ark and minister before God. Yet, they wanted to take this representation of the throne of God out of the holy of holies, and take it into battle with them. It would give them confidence God was really with them.

The ark had gone into battle before: The ark went in front of the marchers around the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:6-8). Moses told the priests to lead the ark into battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:6). Later, Saul brought the ark into battle (1 Samuel 14:18), as did David (2 Samuel 11:11). Later, during the rebellion launched by Absalom, David knew the ark was not a "lucky charm", so he sent it back to Jerusalem when he fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:24-25).

The elders of Israel were right in seeing they needed help from God to win the battle. But they were wrong in the way they went about getting help. Instead of humbly repenting and seeking God, they turned to methods that God never approved. They decide to tempt God. This is the very thing Satan encouraged Jesus to do in His wilderness temptation, trying to "force" God into a miracle by suggesting Jesus leap off the pinnacle of the temple (Matthew 4:5-7). They must have been pleased to arrive at such a great solution. However, their major pitfall was not consulting God. How often are we guilty of this ourselves? We have a great plan we think God will approve of. Instead of seeking Him in prayer and through His word, we often act in haste and then wonder why we fail miserably.

That it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies: Viewing the Ark of the covenant as a lucky charm or a talisman, the Israelites believe the power of God is in this earthly vessel. They have again sunk into the depths of idolatry worshiping an item made with human hands instead of God. This often makes me think of many folks who have "lucky" underwear or a rabbit's foot or other non-sense which they carry around hoping these lifeless objects will give them deliverance from their enemies.

Hophni and Phinehas were there with the ark of the covenant of God: Wanting to the right thing, the elders of Israel sent to Shiloh to have the Ark brought to them. God had commanded the Ark be carried and cared for by priests. The elders did the right thing in having priests to carry the Ark, but there actions were all wrong. Although the elders hatched this brilliant plan to move the Ark of the covenant, I cannot help but also cast blame on Hophni, Phinehas and Eli. Being priests in charge of the Ark, they should have consulted the LORD before moving the Ark. Again, we see how far away from God the priesthood had become under the direction of Eli and his sons.

3. (1 Sam 4:5) Israel's confidence in the Ark of the covenant
As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so the the earth resounded.

All Israel shouted with a great shout: As far as we know, this was the first time since the establishment of the people in Canaan that the Ark had been brought from the permanent sanctuary into the camp. And thus, the shout from the Israelites would have been in the confidence which they placed in the appearance of the Ark. Someone passing by Israel's camp would have thought something tremendous was happening. Certainly, this would have been considered a great church service, and many would think they were really trusting in God. But for all the appearances, it was really NOTHING!!! All their noise and excitement meant nothing because it wasn't grounded in God's truth.

4. (1 Sam 4:6-9) The Philistines fear the Ark of the covenant 
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? There are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kings of plagues in the wilderness. Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight."

The Philistine reactions: It is interesting reading the remarks made by the Philistines. They seem to be very familiar with the history of Israel. The Philistines knew about the Ark of the covenant. The Philistines had never seen the Ark in battle before and knew this was a rare event. They knew the God of the Israelites slew the Egyptians with plague. It is interesting to postulate why the Philistines knew about the Ark of the covenant. We are told the Israelites shout was earth shaking. Although we do not know how far the Philistines camp was from the Israelites, we can assume it was likely not very far, as who wants to walk a great distance and get tired out before having to fight your enemy? So, we can assume the Philistines were fairly close to the Israelites. It is very likely the Philistines, upon hearing the shout of joy (and being very confused why a defeated army would have something to celebrate) sent spies into Israel's camp to find out what the commotion was all about. The spies then relayed the information they gathered back to their camp.

These mighty gods: Even though the Philistines did not understand very much about God, the Philistines recognized the superiority of the God of Israel. Yet, despite their recognition of the superiority of the God of Israel, they become more determined to fight against Him. If they really believed their gods were greater than the God of Israel was, they should not have been worried, for their gods should have been able to easily defeat the God of Israel. If, however, they believed the God of Israel to be greater than their gods, they should have submitted to Him. We, like the Philistines, often know God is greater than anything else in the world and deserves our submission. Yet, we often resist God as well, instead of submitting to Him. Like the Philistines, knowledge isn't our problem--submission to God is. 

Take courage and be men: The presence of the Ark has not made the Philistines feel like giving up. Instead, it has made them feel they must fight all the harder to overcome the odds. They show the courage that comes from desperation. The godless Philistines can teach us something. Christians need to show more of this courage. Instead of giving up when things look bad, why not, trusting the LORD, fight all the harder? Why not dedicate yourself in submission to God all the more? Why not decide, God giving you the strength, you will not give up? Courage and persistence win many victories. Shouldn't we show the same kind of courage and persistence for the LORD? 

5.(1 Sam 4:10-11) The Ark goes into battle, and the Israelites are defeated worse then before. 

So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Israel was defeated: There were three reasons for the great defeat. First, the Philistines fought with the courage of underdogs. Second, the Israelites felt that the battle would be easy with the ark of the Covenant there, and did not try as hard. Finally, God did not bless Israel's superstitious belief in the power of the ark instead of the power of God. We often make the same mistake the Israelites did. We believe that if God is with us, we don't need to try so hard. We think if God is on our side, the work will be easy. That may not be true at all! As it turned out, God did not feel obligated to bless the Israelites just because they took the ark into battle. He did not allow His arm to be twisted by the superstitions of the Israelites. 

Every man fled to his tent: This does not mean that the Israelites fled back to their tents in the camp at Ebenezer; rather, it means that every man fled away in every direction, each toward his own home.

Thirty thousand foot soldiers: A horrible defeat. Not only did Israel lose, they lost far worse than they did before taking the ark into battle. The loss which prompted them to take the ark saw about four thousand men of Israel fall (1 Samuel 4:2). Here, more than seven times as many men of Israel are killed. The Israelites are called foot soldiers because they had neither horses nor chariots.

Side note: In the late 1970's, a five-line inscription was found on a grain silo in the ruins of Izbet Sarteh. When deciphered, it was found to contain a Philistine account of this battle, the capture of the Ark, even specifically mentioning the priest Hophni. This is the earliest known extra-biblical reference to an Old Testament event. 

The ark of God was taken: The very "thing" the Israelites thought would win the battle was taken away from them! And in His majesty, God revealed an important truth--the living God does not bind His presence to a work of man's hands. Israel had made an idol of the Ark. God often breaks of our idolatry by taking the idol away. There was nothing wrong with the Ark. God commanded Israel to make it. It was important to Israel. Yet, even a good thing like the Ark can be made an idol, and God won't tolerate our idols. Even thought the Ark was capture, the God of the Ark was still on the throne in heaven, and guiding these circumstances for His glory. Israel thought they could ignore the God of the Ark and find deliverance in the Ark of God. But God showed He was greater than the Ark. 

The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died: This was in direct fulfillment of the prophecy given by the man of God in 1 Samuel 2:34. It is very probable that the sons of Eli stood by the Ark during the battle. They probably chose to die rather than give up the Ark to the Philistines. If this is so, how tragic it is that Hophni and Phinehas would fiercely defend an idol; yet, they would not adhere to the commandments of the LORD their God.

1 Samuel Chapter 3 Part Two (Verses 10-21)

B. God's message to Samuel
1. (1 Sam 3:10) Samuel responds just like Eli told him.
Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."

Then the LORD came and stood: This time, there is more than a voice present. This image was not a dream for the Hebrew word is "march", which means something seen with wide awake eyes. The image Samuel saw was probably the angel of the LORD, which many believe to be the pre-incarnate Christ. The Hebrew wording is very similar in Numbers 22:22-31, when the angel of the LORD confronts Balaam as he travels to Moab to meet with Balak.

2. (1 Sam 3:11-14) God's message to Samuel--coming judgment on Eli and his house.

The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offerings forever."

I will do a thing in Israel: The course is set, and God's judgment is final. God promises doom is coming to Eli's house, and since God cannot lie, the announcement of punishment is as good as already done.

Both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle: This is a Hebrew idiom which would be more commonly translated in English as "It shall stun all that hear it." The same idiom is used for the coming destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 2 Kings 21:12 and Jeremiah 19:3. (2 Kings 21:11-12: "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols; therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am bringing such a calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.") Although we are not told the details of the exact punishment Eli and his house will endure, in this part of Scripture we can gather from the Hebrew idiom that the calamity about to befall Eli and his family is going to be very great. When God uses the same words he used for the destruction of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar, you know the outcome is going to be bleak not only for Eli and his house but for the nation of Israel as well.

True to God's word, the destruction later brought upon Eli and his house was indeed very great. Israel is defeated by the Philistines, Eli and his sons die, and the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines (which leads to the abandonment of the tabernacle at Shiloh).

In that day: God declares His judgment will happen yet in the future. The ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy did not occur for about 20-30 years. God, as He often does, gives the sinner(s) time to repent and make peace with God. Many times, such as at the repentance of Nineveh (Jonah 3), God gives time for repentance and if the people repent, He chooses to turn away His judgment for the moment and spare the sinners. Since the text is silent about Eli's and his sons' repentance, we can assume they did not turn their hearts to God; they did not ask for forgiveness for their wicked ways. Thus God inflicts punishment on Eli and his family.

For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever: Referring back to the man of God and his message deliver to Eli in 1 Samuel 2:27-36, God is re-iterating His intentions to Eli by delivering a message of confirmation by Samuel.

Because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them: The Hebrew is very interesting. It literally says, "he did not frown upon and knit his brows at them in righteous anger." This does not mean that Eli was not displeased at his sons' actions, for he did verbally chide them. However, he did not sternly punish them. He did not restrain them and did not throw them out of the priestly office or suspend them until they reformed their ways. No, Eli only gently rebukes his sons. God shows His displeasure by sentencing a severe punishment not only on Eli and his sons, but on the whole family.

(Interesting side note: In the Greek Septuagint translation of the verse "because his sons brought a curse on themselves", it reads, "because his sons were blaspheming God." This might be the actual translation of the verse because there is a Jewish tradition that the original rendering of the verse was altered by the scribes out of reverence for Eli and his sons. Eli's sons did indeed blaspheme God by desecrating the priestly office, making worshipers sin and conducting themselves in lewd acts of immorality in the presence of the LORD. If this Jewish tradition is true, it is a good example how human motives to protect man's honor and glory in essence shows irreverence to God. Eli's sons were wicked and their punishment was justly deserved. If we fail to give reverence to God, we will fall into the same wicked behaviors as Eli and his sons for Scripture says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" Proverbs 1:7.)

Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offerings forever: The word for sacrifice is the Hebrew word "zebach" which means the sacrifice of an animal by the shedding of it blood. The word for offering is the Hebrew word "minchah" which means non-blood sacrifice (such as money and food and wine). In this passage, God makes it clear that Eli and his sons' sins could not be purged by the usual methods used at the time to cleanse a sinner from his sins. In 1 Samuel 2:27-36, Eli was given a warning of the terrible things which would come to his household; yet, he did not yield its message by making atonement for his sins and punishing his sons for their sins. The repetition of the great calamity about to face Eli and his house serves as a finality to the judgment. The word "forever" seems to seal the fate of Eli and his sons to the doom and destruction God has foretold.

Eli hardened himself in his weakness. He took no steps to vindicate God's priestly office. His sons hardened themselves in their crimes and made the office of the priesthood a reproach. It was enough to repeat and confirm the general terms of the former prophecy, as no repentance or turning back to God would be performed by Eli or his sons.

An interesting note, the coming destruction of Eli and his family given to Samuel is void of any specific details. Since Samuel was still a child, the prophecy given to him only states God is reaffirming His promise to bring destruction on Eli and his house. Unlike the man of God's prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:27-36 which speaks of the death of Eli's sons, the words given to Samuel provide a sharp rebuke to Eli without using graphic, frightening details. How incredible it is to see how God can use even a child to give harsh words, without frightening the child in the process.

Do we ever come to a place where our sin cannot be "atoned for by sacrifice or offerings forever"? Only if we reject the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 it states, "God made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." God gives us chance after chance to accept His Son to be our Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, many people think they will accept Jesus "tomorrow". They fail to make a commitment to God and before they know it, time runs out. I pray if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you take time TODAY to sit down and pray to Him. Ask for forgiveness of your sins. Ask for Jesus to come into your life and make atonement for your sins. Ask for Him to help show you the way of righteousness and lead you in the way you should go. 

3. (2 Sam 3:15-18) Samuel tells Eli the message from God

So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him." 

Samuel...opened the doors: In Exodus 26:36 and Exodus 36:37, the Hebrew word "pethach" is used when speaking about the tabernacle doors (although the word is translated as door, it really means an opening protected by a hanging curtain.) Here in 1 Samuel, the word used for door is "deleth" which means a door hanging on its hinges and can be opened or shut. This implies that although the tabernacle was once a portable tent structure, now that it was located at Shiloh, a solid building (or several buildings) had been built around the tabernacle. This verse also sheds some light on Samuel's duties. It appears Samuel did menial jobs such as being a door-keeper, which would have been performed by low-ranking Levites. Although this position was a lowly one, contrary to the high-ranking officials of Eli's sons which committed much wickedness, Samuel performed his duties with much reverence and gives much meaning to Psalm 84:10: "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand,. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision: And thus it begins. Samuel has been called to be a prophet and now must bear the prophet's burden. He has now become the messenger of God's Word and must reveal the harsh reality of God's judgment on those Samuel loves and serves. It is perhaps one of the most difficult burdens to bear, and many prophets, like Jeremiah, lament the tremendous weight of the task. "Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have men lent money to me, yet everyone curses me" (Jeremiah 15:10).

May God do so to you, and more also: In more modern day English, "May God inflict the same evils upon you which I suspect He has pronounced against me, and greater evils also if you do not tell me the entire message from God." This phrasing was common in Hebrew oaths and adjurations. It is used 11 times in the books of Samuel and Kings. When used, the speaker is required to tell the whole, complete truth, not leaving out any details. (Examples include 1 Kings 22:16 ("Then the king said to him, 'How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?'") and Matthew 26:63 ("But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, 'I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.'").) Based upon the previous message Eli received from "the man of God", Eli had a good inclination what message God had revealed to Samuel. Knowing the harsh judgment which awaited Eli and his family, Eli uses this as leverage to extract from Samuel all of God's Word.

Samuel told him everything: How difficult it must have been for Samuel to proclaim God's Word to Eli. There are few prophets with hard heart like Jonah who are happy to announce God's judgments. However, most find it very difficult. Yet, it is always the responsibility of God's messenger to bring the whole message of God, and not just the easy words. It is dangerous for both the messenger and the hearers if the messenger only brings a "good" or "happy" message.

"Thus says the Lord God, 'Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, "The LORD declares," but it is not I who have spoken?' Therefore, thus says the LORD God, 'Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,' declares the Lord GOD. 'So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord GOD. It is definitely because they have mislead My people by saying, "Peace!" when there is no peace'" (Jeremiah 13:3, 6-10a).

"Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in My name, and I sent them not, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land,' by sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prohesy shall be cast out into the street of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and they shall have none to bury them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters, for I will pour our their wickedness upon them" (Jeremiah 14:15-16).

It is the LORD; let Him do good what seems good to Him: Eli knows this message is from God Almighty. In a spirit of meek and un-murmuring submission, Eli accepts the Words from the LORD. Eli sees how deeply he had failed in his high office, how he had failed at the upbringing of Hophni and Phinehas, how he had been tried and found guilty of his conduct. And now, without a murmur, he submits to the righteous judgment of his God, he leaves himself in God's hands, and never tries to justify himself and his past conduct. Eli had sown the wind and now must reap the whirlwind. Similar resignation to God's will can be seen in Aaron (Leviticus 10:30), Job (Job 1:21), and Hezekiah (Isaiah 39:8).

C. Samuel matures and is established as a prophet
1. (1 Sam 3:19-20) Samuel grows, maturing physically and spiritually
Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

The LORD was with him: Ah, what beautiful words!!! After having the harsh judgment pronounced against Eli and his sons, again we are brought back to the God-fearing child of God, Samuel. God is the source of strength for all the heroes in Israel's history.

Abraham: "Now it came at that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.'" (Genesis 21:22)

Jacob: "'Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'" (Genesis 28:15)

Joseph: "The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of the master, the Egyptian." (Genesis 37:2)

Moses: "And He said, 'Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship at this mountain.'" (Exodus 3:12)

Joshua: "'No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.'" (Joshua 1:5)

Let none of his words fall to the ground: This is a metaphor taken from from archery. The marksman shoots out his arrows from his bow and all hit their intended mark. Not one of the arrows misses and falls to the ground. Samuel being a faithful obedient servant, delivers God's Word accurately; whereby, God fulfills all the prophecies given to Samuel.

From Dan to Beersheba: This is a common phrase used to denote the entire land of Israel. Dan was located in the far northern regions and Beersheba was located in the south. (In the USA, it would be like saying from New York to California.) This saying is first found in Judges 20:1 ("Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah."), and is common in the books of Samuel. It disappears after the division of the land of Israel into the northern and southern kingdoms, occurring only once again after the fall of the northern kingdom in 2 Chronicles 30:5 ("So the established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed.)

Dan: Originally named Leshem or Laish--a Sidonian colony. It was captured, colonized and re-named by a band of Danites in Judges 18. It was the northernmost town of Israel, and stood upon a hill from the base of which springs of the main source of the Jordan River flow through a rich fertile plain to towards Lake Merom. In 1 Kings 12:28-30, King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom set up golden calves to worship. ("So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold, your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.' He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan" (1 Kings 12:28-30).) Shortly thereafter, in Kings 15:20, the city is destroyed by Benhadad (King of Aram--present day Syria), and there is no more mention of it. ("So Benhadad listened to King Asa and sent commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah and all Chinneroth, besides all the land of Napthali" (1 Kings 15:20).) The word "Dan" means judge.

Beersheba: Beersheba possibly means well of the oath, so named for the covenant Abraham and Abimelech made there (Genesis 21:31). Beersheba possibly means well of seven, in allusion to the seven ewe lambs with which the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech was ratified (Genesis 21:29-30). Beersheba was situated at the southernmost reach of the land of Israel, on the edges of the southern desert. It was a very notable place in the history of the patriarchs. Here Abraham, Isaac and Jacob often dwelt (Genesis 22:19, Genesis 28:10, Genesis 46:1). Here Samuel's sons were established as judges (1 Samuel 8:2). Here came Elijah when he fled from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:3). It was the seat of idolatrous worship in the days of the prophet Amos (Amos 5:5 and Amos 8:14). It is mentioned for the last time in Scripture as one of the towns reoccupied by the Jews on their return from captivity (Nehemiah 11:27).

All Israel...knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD: Since the days of Moses (some four hundred years before the time of Samuel) there have not been many prophets in Israel, and certainly no great prophets. Now, at this important time in Israel's history, God raises up Samuel as a prophet. Samuel is viewed as Israel's last judge. He bridges the gap between the time of the judges and the time of the monarchy when prophets such as Nathan, Elijah and Isaiah spiritually influence the nation. Through the book of Judge, when God raised up a judge, the judge led Israel mostly through political and military influence. Samuel, as a judge, mainly led Israel by his spiritual influence.

2. (1 Sam 3:21) The word of the LORD comes to Samuel
And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

The LORD appeared again at Shiloh: After God's first appearance in 1 Samuel 3:10, now the LORD reveals Himself again.

By the word of the LORD: Through communication via prophetic messages, the rarity of the word from the LORD expressed in 1 Samuel 3:1 would now become common as Samuel would proclaim the LORD'S message abroad to all Israel.

1 Samuel Chapter 3 Part One (Verses 1-9)

God speaks to Samuel

A. Samuel is unable to recognize God's voice.
1. (1 Sam 3:1) The scarcity of revelation in Israel.
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And the word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

The boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD: This is the third time it is written that Samuel ministered to the LORD (1 Samuel 2:11 and 18). These words come as a refrain, contrasting the quiet life of Samuel which showed his continual growth and service before the LORD with the evil narrative of Eli's sons. Few details are given about Samuel's life. We are given but a few details which fill in only the bare necessities to bring us to this part of the story. According to Josephus, Samuel has just completed his twelfth year of life when the word of the LORD came to him. In later times, this was a critical age in a Jewish boy's life. At the age of twelve, the boy became a son of the Law and was held personally responsible for upholding obedience to everything written in the Law. Interestingly, it was at the age of twelve that Jesus first went up with his parents to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover (Luke 2:42). Perhaps this is another comparison we are to appreciate between the childhood life of Samuel and Jesus.

The word from the LORD was rare in those days: In the first two chapters of 1 Samuel, the only word of the LORD which we read is one of judgment brought by the man of God against Eli. God didn't speak often, and when He did, it was a word of judgment! Why was the word of the LORD rare in those days? Probably, because of the hardness of heart among the people of Israel and the corruption of the priesthood. God will speak, and guide, when His people seek Him, and when His ministers seek to serve Him diligently.

2. (1 Sam 3:2-4) God's first words to Samuel
It happened at that time as Eli was laying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am."

Eli was laying down in his place: This would have been in the court of the tabernacle, where there were a variety of rooms for the use of the priest for various uses including sleeping quarters.

Now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well: This clause serves to explain why Samuel runs to Eli when he heard the Voice. Samuel would suppose that upon hearing a voice, the seeing impaired Eli required assistance. Another interpretation of this passage is that Eli's spiritual eyes were growing dim. The Holy Spirit, which allowed Eli to receive prophecy, was departing from him because of Eli's apathy toward his sons. Henceforth, the word of the LORD departed from Eli and was now bestowed upon Samuel.

The lamp of God had not yet gone out: This is a Hebrew figure of speech which means, before dawn. The priests were responsible for lighting the lamps and keeping the lamps lit during the night. If "the lamp of God had not yet gone out", this means sunrise was near when the priests could extinguish the lamps. "In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come" (Exodus 27:21). 

Another interpretation is that the "lamp of God" is here being used as a figure of speech. Through the disobedience of Eli and his sons, God had abandoned Eli's family. However, there was still hope; a small flicker of God's light remained. Through God's revelation to Samuel, and Samuel's  subsequent obedience to God, the "lamp of God" was about to rekindled.

The LORD called Samuel: Throughout the Old Testament, we are told God dwells between the Cherubim above the ark of the covenant. ("The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the Cherubim" (Psalm 99:1).) Also, God spoke to Moses from between the two cherubim above the ark of the covenant. ("When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him" (Numbers 7:89).) So using Scripture as a guide, I think it is pssible God first called to Samuel from between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant--the place where He dwells. What a beautiful picture this is. After so many years of infrequent words from the LORD and at the start of Samuel's official call to serve God, we see God's glory (the Shekinah) return to His dwelling place.

Here I am: Samuel's response is not intended to declare his location to the voice calling him, but it is to express his eagerness and readiness to obey. The same words are used by Abraham when God calls him to offer his son (Isaac) as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1), by Jacob when God speaks to Jacob in a night vision at Beersheba (Genesis 46:2), by Moses when God calls to him from the midst of the burning bush (Exodus 3:4), and by Isaiah when God calls Isaiah to be a prophet (Isaiah 6:8). 

3. (1 Samuel 3:5-9) Samuel does not recognize God's voice
Then he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, lie down again." So he went and lay down. The LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he answered, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

He ran to Eli: What an obedient child! Despite it being very early in the morning, before sunrise, at the sound of the voice, Samuel immediately gets out of bed to run to his master's side. Samuel's obedience in this small matter helps us understand his future obedience to God in more important matters.

The LORD called yet again: When speaking to us, God almost always confirms His word again and again. It is generally wrong to do something dramatic in response to a single "inner voice" from the LORD. If God is speaking, He will confirm, and often in a variety of ways.

Samuel did not yet know the LORD: This verse explains why Samuel did not recognize the voice. The Hebrew word used here is "yada" which means to know by experience, to be acquainted with or to make oneself known. The word "yada" is used in Genesis 4:1: "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." The word "yada" expresses a deep, intimate relationship as seen between a man and wife.

Samuel knew who God was and knew some of His word and worship; he knew some of the rituals which would have been performed by Eli and his sons. However, "knowing the LORD" denotes personal knowledge of God. It does not mean having a pious, religious knowledge of God. It means having a personal knowledge, a personal relationship which has been revealed by an intimate revelation. This is similar today in many churches. Folks "know" who Jesus is--they habitually read Scripture passages and utter rote memorized prayers and responses to prayer--but they do not have a personal relationship with Him. They do not study His word, pray to Him, heed to obey Him. Thus, when God calls them, they are just as confused as Samuel--they are unable to distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of men.

The LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli: Wow! Three times Samuel is called, and three times Samuel goes to Eli. What obedience! Samuel continues to heed the voice, and God continues to call Samuel until Samuel is able to do what the LORD wishes. Although Samuel does not yet know the LORD, God shows his patience as Samuel continues to fail to recognize His voice. What hope this passage is for us. If we respond incorrectly or fail to respond at all, God will continue calling us until we respond appropriately.

Then Eli discerned the LORD was calling the boy: After Samuel came three times to Eli, Eli now seems willing to believe Samuel heard a voice calling to him. Since there was no one in the tabernacle but Eli and Samuel, Eli concludes that God must be calling Samuel from the holy place. Eli would have been familiar with speaking to the LORD. Since he was the high priest, he was the person responsible for going into the holy of holies once a year on the day of atonement and was responsible for making intercession between the LORD and  the nation of Israel. Eli recognizes this situation as one in which God is attempting to communicate with Samuel. Being familiar with talking to the LORD, Eli advises Samuel in the way which he should answer the LORD. 

Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening: Eli gives Samuel invaluable advice. The next time Samuel hears the voice, he is to remain where he is. He should not run to Eli, but should respond to the voice that he is ready and willing to listen to the God's instructions. This advice is also of great value to us today. When we hear the LORD'S voice, do we run off and tell our family or friends? Do we run about and act hastily. "I have heard the LORD'S voice, which means He must be answering my prayer. I am to take my life savings and go on an Alaskan cruise!" And when we act without seeking God, does everything turn out badly? When we hear God's voice, we should stay where we are and seek additional counsel. It is better to do nothing and have God call us over and over again than to act in the way in which we hope God is telling us to go.