Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:8 Eli realizes who is calling Samuel

When the Lord calls Samuel, he does not recognize the voice of God.  Instead, he runs to Eli several times thinking he is calling him.  On the third time, the Bible states in 1 Samuel 3:8 that "Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy".  As a Priest, Eli had great knowledge of the scriptures.  His delay in immediately realizing who was calling the boy may have been because he himself was not in a right relationship with God.  He may not have heard God speak to him audibly or to his heart in quite a while.  When Samuel came to Eli the third time, he may have realized that he had once learned of a similar story in Genesis 46:2-3.  In that story, God calls to Jacob.  It is possible that Eli may have told the story of Jacob to young Samuel.  This would have been a great teaching opportunity.  After this knowledge may have been imparted by Eli to Samuel, Samuel returns to bed.  In 1 Samuel 3:10, God repeats the name of Samuel twice ("Samuel, Samuel").  This was the same way God called Jacob saying, "Jacob, Jacob".  Could God have done this specifically as a confirmation of the story shared by Eli?  Possibly.  It does make you think.  This is only a possible scenario; however, it seems very likely.  Samuel responds in 1 Samuel 3:10 "...Speak for your servant is listening."

So, there seems to be a strong possibility that Eli's instructions to Samuel and directly tied to his knowledge of the story of Jacob in Genesis 46:2-3. 

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