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1 Samuel 3

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 3 of 31

1 And the boy Samuel was serving Jehovah before Eli. And the Word of Jehovah was rare in those days. There was no breaking-through vision.

2 And it happened at that time, Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to be dim; he was not able to see.

3 And the lamp of God had not yet gone out. And Samuel was lying down in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God rested.

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Chapter Summary

How Jehovah's Word was first revealed to Samuel. Jehovah tells Samuel the vision. Samuel grows in credit.

Key Hebrew Words

דָּבָר word (of Jehovah) H1697 · TWOT 399a
חָזוֹן vision H2377 · TWOT 633a
גָּלָה reveal, uncover H1540 · TWOT 350
שָׁרַת minister, serve H8334 · TWOT 2472
עָוֺן iniquity H5771 · TWOT 1577a
נָבִיא prophet H5030 · TWOT 1277a

People & Context

Samuel

The boy ministering to Jehovah who is called by name three times and given his first prophetic word against Eli's house

Eli

The aged, dim-eyed priest who discerns Jehovah is calling Samuel and hears the judgment pronounced on his house

Timeline

Jehovah Calls Samuel

While sleeping near the Ark in the temple, Jehovah calls Samuel three times. Samuel mistakenly runs to Eli each time until Eli realizes God is calling the boy.

1 Samuel 3:1-8
Eli Instructs Samuel

Eli tells Samuel to lie down again and, if called, to respond by saying, 'Speak, O Jehovah, for Your servant hears.'

1 Samuel 3:9
Jehovah's Message of Judgment

Jehovah calls a fourth time and reveals to Samuel that He will execute an unatonable judgment upon the house of Eli for his sons' unchecked iniquity.

1 Samuel 3:10-14

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