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.
So he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am! You called me.' But Eli said, 'I didn't call you. Go back and lie down.' So Samuel went back and lay down.
The writer is showing us young Samuel's obedience and confusion as he responds to what he thinks is Eli calling him, but Eli sends him back to bed.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the judges in ancient Israel, Samuel was a young boy dedicated to God and serving in the tabernacle at Shiloh under the priest Eli, whose own sons were corrupt and failing in their duties. One night, Samuel heard a voice calling his name and mistakenly thought it was Eli, leading to this exchange where Eli denies calling him. This incident is part of the biblical narrative where God is initiating direct communication with Samuel, preparing him for his role as a prophet in a spiritually declining era.
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