1 Samuel 3:15-21·~1 min

Samuel Shares the Vision

Samuel rises to his ordinary duties but fears telling Eli the vision. When Eli insists on hearing everything, Samuel hides nothing and tells him the whole message.

S¹⁵amuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, ¹⁶but Eli called to him and said, “Samuel, my son.” ¹⁷“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.” ¹⁸So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him.

As Samuel grows, the LORD remains with him and establishes his words. All Israel comes to know him as the LORD's prophet, and the LORD continues to reveal Himself to him at Shiloh.

¹⁹And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. ²⁰So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. ²¹And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.

Section summaryMorning comes, and Samuel is afraid to tell Eli what he has seen, but he speaks the whole message when Eli presses him. From there the chapter widens: the LORD is with Samuel, his words prove true, and all Israel recognizes him as the LORD's prophet.

Role in the chapterThis closing section shows Samuel doing the hard work of speaking the word he has received, then confirms him publicly as the LORD's prophet. The private night vision becomes the beginning of a recognized ministry.