Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 3

Josephus says that Samuel’s call to the prophetic office happened when he had just completed his twelfth year .

The phrase was precious means it was rare. The song of Hannah and the prophecy of the “man of God” (1 Samuel 2:27) are the only instances of prophecy since the time of Deborah. Samuel is mentioned as the first in this series of prophets (Acts 3:24).

The phrase no open vision is better translated as, “There was no vision widely proclaimed or published” (compare 2 Chronicles 31:5).

The passage should be rendered this way: And it came to pass at that time that Eli was sleeping in his place; and his eyes had begun to grow dim; he could not see. And the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was; and the Lord called Samuel, etc.

Eli’s old age and dimness of sight are probably mentioned as the reason why Samuel thought Eli had called him. As a blind and feeble old man, he was likely to call for help if he needed anything, either for himself or for the service of the temple.

Did not yet know the Lord - that is, in His supernatural communication, as follows at the end of the verse. The rendering of this verse in the main text is better than the one in the margin.

A personal presence, not a mere voice or impression on Samuel’s mind, is distinctly indicated here. (Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:16.)

More accurately, the phrase is, “the which whosoever heareth both his ears shall tingle.” This expressive phrase occurs twice more in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. It is remarkable that Jeremiah repeatedly compares the destruction of Jerusalem with that of Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9).