The Tabernacle remained at Shiloh, and Samuel served Yahweh by assisting Eli. 

The Prophetic Atmosphere in Eli’s Home (1-3)

Even though an unnamed prophet showed up and prophesied to Eli, prophetic words were not common and visions were even more rare. It is in the middle of such a history that the story of Samuel’s introduction into prophetic ministry is told (1).

One night, as Eli lay blind in bed and metaphorically blind to God, just before the lamp in the holy place had extinguished from lack of care, Samuel fell asleep (2-3).

Yahweh Calls Out to Samuel (4-10)

Suddenly, Yahweh called out Samuel’s name. Samuel jumped out of bed with a yes spirit and ran to Eli, ready to serve and wanting to know why Eli had called. When Samuel heard his name summoned, his first thought was not to listen to the voice of Yahweh but rather to imagine it was Eli’s voice (4-6). This running back and forth and being told by Eli that he had not called his name happened three times.

First, this happened because Samuel had never heard God’s voice before, and second, because Eli was slow in discerning what God was doing in Samuel’s life. It was not until the third time Yahweh called Samuel that Eli became spiritually aware of what was going on (7-8).

Eli then taught Samuel how to listen to the voice of Yahweh, emphasizing that Samuel was to tell Yahweh that he was present and would listen to Yahweh. Samuel did just as Eli had taught (9-10).

Samuel Listens (11-14)

Yahweh then came to Samuel a fourth time and told the young boy that the word He spoke against Eli and his family would come to pass. Yahweh told Samuel that He had warned Eli of the coming judgment and had told him to discipline his sons, but he would not correct them, so their sins were bringing an irreversible judgment (11-14).

Samuel’s First Prophecy (15-18)

Samuel lay in bed the rest of the night and then arose to do chores as normal, not running to Eli with the word Yahweh had spoken to him. Samuel feared relaying the message to Eli, for the word was so severe and foreboding that even Samuel did not want to believe it, much less share it. Samuel sought to preoccupy himself with regular duties in an attempt to forget what Yahweh had spoken (15).

Eli could not contain his own suspense, so he eventually called for Samuel to come to him as if his own son and tell him what Yahweh had spoken. Eli threatened Samuel with a curse if Samuel left any detail out of what Yahweh had spoken to him (16-17). Samuel told Eli all and did not hold back a single prophetic morsel. 

Eli affirmed that Samuel had heard God’s will and then shrugged as a victim and told Samuel Yahweh could do what He thought best. As far as Eli was concerned, no matter what was coming, he was not going to discipline his sons (18).

Samuel’s Development (19-21)

Yahweh remained close to Samuel, speaking to him so much that his prophetic reputation began to spread all over Israel (19-20). Eventually, Samuel was ordained a prophet of Yahweh (21). The prophetic words Samuel received made their way to the whole nation, guiding many hearts to worship Yahweh as Eli’s sons continued their wicked behavior.