1 Now the boy Samuel was serving the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Speaker} before Eli. In those days, the word of the LORD was rare; there was no widespread vision {khazon: prophetic revelation}.
2 At that time Eli {Eli: Priestly Elder} was lying down in his place, and his eyes {einav: Physical Vision} had begun to grow dim so that he could not see.
3 Before the lamp of God {Elohim, Cultic Guide} went out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD {YHWH, Holy Dwelling}, in the place where the ark {ʾā·rōn: sacred chest} of God was.
4 Then the LORD {YHWH, Voice Caller} called to Samuel, and Samuel said, “Here I am {hineni: ready and attentive}.”
5 He ran to Eli {Eli: priestly judge} and said, “Here I am, for you summoned me.” But Eli said, “I did not summon you {karati: to call or beckon}; return and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Caller} called again, “Samuel.” Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call {qārāʾtî: summon or address}, my son; return and lie down.”
7 At this point, Samuel was not yet acquainted with the LORD {YHWH, Divine Instructor}, and the word {devar: prophetic message} of the LORD had not yet been disclosed to him.
8 The LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Caller} called Samuel once more, for the third time, and he rose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy {na’ar: young servant}.
9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker}, for your servant {eved: dedicated attendant} is listening.’” Then Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the LORD {YHWH, Manifest Presence} came and stood there and called as on previous occasions, “Samuel, Samuel.” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant {eved: devoted attendant} is listening.”
11 And the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Speaker} said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing {davar: weighty announcement} in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears it tingle.”
12 On that day I {YHWH, Divine Judge} will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his house, from beginning {hachel: outset} to completion.
13 I {YHWH, Supreme Judge} have declared to him that I am judging his house forever for the iniquity {avon: moral guilt} that he knew, because his sons were cursing God, and he did not restrain them.
14 And therefore I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} have sworn to the house of Eli: “The guilt {avon: moral wrongdoing} of the house of Eli will never be atoned for by sacrifice or by offering forever.”
15 Samuel lay there until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD {YHWH, Sanctuary Master}, and he was afraid to tell the vision {mar'ah: prophetic revelation} to Eli.
16 Then Eli {Eli: Priestly Mentor} called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son {beni: beloved child}.” And Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
17 And he said, “What is the word {davar: oracle} that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God {Elohim, Supreme Judge} do so to you, and add more, if you conceal from me any part of all the word that He spoke to you.”
18 So Samuel told him all the words {devarim: messages revealed} and did not withhold anything from him. And Eli said, “It is the LORD {YHWH, Just Arbiter}; let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
19 Samuel grew {vayigdal: matured}, and the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Guardian} was with him; He did not let any of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet {navi: spokesman} of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker}.
21 And the LORD {YHWH, Self-Revealing One} continued to appear at Shiloh, for He was revealed there to Samuel by the word {davar: divine message} of the LORD.