1-Samuel 3 [1-Samuel 3:1] AND THE CHILD SAMUEL MINISTERED UNTO THE LORD BEFORE ELI. AND THE  WORD OF THE LORD WAS PRECIOUS IN THOSE DAYS; THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION. [1-Samuel 3:2] AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME, WHEN ELI WAS LAID DOWN IN HIS PLACE, AND HIS EYES BEGAN TO WAX DIM, THAT HE COULD NOT SEE; Yehudah Kiel ("Daat Mikra") points out that due to his weakness of sight Eli could no longer fulfil his functions as High Priest so one or other of  his sons would serve in  his stead. For the same reason he needed Samuel to help him around. This was why Samuel thought Eli was calling him. [1-Samuel 3:3] AND ERE THE LAMP OF GOD WENT OUT IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, WHERE THE ARK OF GOD WAS, AND SAMUEL WAS LAID DOWN TO SLEEP;    <<LAMP OF GOD>>: Yehudah Kiel: This is the Menorah that was alight from evening to morning (Leviticus 24:4 Exodus 27:20,21). [1-Samuel 3:4] THAT THE LORD CALLED SAMUEL: AND HE ANSWERED, HERE AM I. [1-Samuel 3:5] AND HE RAN UNTO ELI, AND SAID, HERE AM I; FOR THOU CALLEDST ME. AND HE SAID, I CALLED NOT; LIE DOWN AGAIN. AND HE WENT AND LAY DOWN. [1-Samuel 3:6] AND THE LORD CALLED YET AGAIN, SAMUEL. AND SAMUEL AROSE AND WENT TO  ELI, AND SAID, HERE AM I; FOR THOU DIDST CALL ME. AND HE ANSWERED, I CALLED NOT, MY  SON; LIE DOWN AGAIN. [1-Samuel 3:7] NOW SAMUEL DID NOT YET KNOW THE LORD, NEITHER WAS THE WORD OF THE LORD YET REVEALED UNTO HIM. [1-Samuel 3:8] AND THE LORD CALLED SAMUEL AGAIN THE THIRD TIME. AND HE AROSE AND  WENT TO ELI, AND SAID, HERE AM I; FOR THOU DIDST CALL ME. AND ELI PERCEIVED THAT THE  LORD HAD CALLED THE CHILD. [1-Samuel 3:9] THEREFORE ELI SAID UNTO SAMUEL, GO, LIE DOWN: AND IT SHALL BE, IF HE CALL  THEE, THAT THOU SHALT SAY, SPEAK, LORD; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH. SO SAMUEL WENT AND  LAY DOWN IN HIS PLACE. [1-Samuel 3:10] AND THE LORD CAME, AND STOOD, AND CALLED AS AT OTHER TIMES, SAMUEL,  SAMUEL. THEN SAMUEL ANSWERED, SPEAK; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH. [1-Samuel 3:11] AND THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, BEHOLD, I WILL DO A THING IN ISRAEL, AT  WHICH BOTH THE EARS OF EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH IT SHALL TINGLE. [1-Samuel 3:12] IN THAT DAY I WILL PERFORM AGAINST ELI ALL THINGS WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN  CONCERNING HIS HOUSE: WHEN I BEGIN, I WILL ALSO MAKE AN END. [1-Samuel 3:13] FOR I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT I WILL JUDGE HIS HOUSE FOR EVER FOR THE INIQUITY  WHICH HE KNOWETH; BECAUSE HIS SONS MADE THEMSELVES VILE, AND HE RESTRAINED THEM   NOT. <<MADE THEMSELVES VILE>>: In the Hebrew this is ambiguous  and says something like: "They are belittling them in a cursed manner". This is mostly understood to say that they were disgracing and degrading the people of Israel.  People are judged not only by what they do as individuals but also by what effect their actions have on others. [1-Samuel 3:14] AND THEREFORE I HAVE SWORN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ELI, THAT THE INIQUITY OF  ELI'S HOUSE SHALL NOT BE PURGED WITH SACRIFICE NOR OFFERING FOR EVER. They sinned in the matter of sacrifice and therefore the efficacy of sacrifice would evermore be denied to them. Nevertheless even though sacrifices would not help them and their descendants would have a tendency to be afflicted they could yet help themselves (say the Sages) by learning, good deeds, and prayer. We can all do the same. Never give up. Rabbi Nachman of Bretslav is famous for his much-quoted saying: "If you believe you can make matters worse you should also know that you can make them better". [1-Samuel 3:15] AND SAMUEL LAY UNTIL THE MORNING, AND OPENED THE DOORS OF THE HOUSE OF  THE LORD. AND SAMUEL FEARED TO SHEW ELI THE VISION. [1-Samuel 3:16] THEN ELI CALLED SAMUEL, AND SAID, SAMUEL, MY SON. AND HE ANSWERED,  HERE AM I. [1-Samuel 3:17] AND HE SAID, WHAT IS THE THING THAT THE LORD HATH SAID UNTO THEE? I   PRAY THEE HIDE IT NOT FROM ME: GOD DO SO TO THEE, AND MORE ALSO, IF THOU HIDE ANY THING  FROM ME OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HE SAID UNTO THEE. [1-Samuel 3:18] AND SAMUEL TOLD HIM EVERY WHIT, AND HID NOTHING FROM HIM. AND HE SAID,   IT IS THE LORD: LET HIM DO WHAT SEEMETH HIM GOOD. Eli accepted the verdict and justified the decree of the Almighty. [1-Samuel 3:19] AND SAMUEL GREW, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, AND DID LET NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND. Samuel  (Shmuel) grew up and became known as a Prophet inspired by the Almighty whose every prediction came to pass. [1-Samuel 3:20] AND ALL ISRAEL FROM DAN EVEN TO BEERSHEBA KNEW THAT SAMUEL WAS  ESTABLISHED TO BE A PROPHET OF THE LORD. <<FROM DAN EVEN TO BEERSHEBA>>: This means the Provinces in which the cities of Dan and Beersheba  were the major centers. [1-Samuel 3:21] AND THE LORD APPEARED AGAIN IN SHILOH: FOR THE LORD REVEALED HIMSELF TO SAMUEL IN SHILOH BY THE WORD OF THE LORD. At the beginning of this chapter it says that the Revelation of the Almighty up until then had been  a rare occurrence: "THE  WORD OF THE LORD WAS PRECIOUS IN THOSE DAYS; THERE WAS NO OPEN VISION" (1-Samuel 3:1).  After God first revelaled himself to Samuel He continued to do so. This often happens in many fields including science, sporting acheivements, and our personal lifes. Sometimes there is a blockage, a kind of barrier that impedes everything but when the barrier is removed we can surge ahead. Shiloh is a very beautiful region. A painting of a pathway in Shiloh by night may be seen hanging over the window behind Yair Davidiy in: http://britam.org/yairwithstick.jpg http://britam.org/yairwithstick2.jpg I painted it about 19 years ago. SAMUEL HOME