1. The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often; there were very few visions.
2. Eli’s eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he was lying in bed.
3. Samuel was also in bed in the Lord’s house, where the Ark of the Agreement was. God’s lamp was still burning.
4. Then the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “I am here!”
5. He ran to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.”But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.
6. The Lord called again, “Samuel!”Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.”Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”