John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, go, lie down , etc.] Once more; and it shall be, if he call thee ; the voice, or the Lord by it: that thou shalt say, speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth ; his meaning is, that he should not rise and come to him, as he had done, but continue on his bed, on hearing the voice again, but desire the Lord to speak to him what he had to say, to which he was ready to attend: so Samuel went and lay down in his place ; which, as commonly understood, was in the court of the Levites, (see Gill on “ 1 Samuel 3:3”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to the call. Eli, perceiving tha it was the voice of God that Samuel heard, instructed him what to say Though it was a disgrace to Eli, for God's call to be directed to Samuel, yet he told him how to meet it. Thus the elder should do their utmost to assist and improve the younger that are rising up. Let u never fail to teach those who are coming after us, even such as wil soon be preferred before us, Joh 1:30. Good words should be put int children's mouths betimes, by which they may be prepared to lear Divine things, and be trained up to regard them.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 עלי5941 לשׁמואל8050 לך1980 שׁכב7901 והיה1961 אם518 יקרא7121 אליך413 ואמרת559 דבר1696 יהוה3068 כי3588 שׁמע8085 עבדך5650 וילך1980 שׁמואל8050 וישׁכב7901 במקומו׃4725
