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."
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).
"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.
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.
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.
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