1. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
2. One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
3. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
4. Suddenly the lord called out, “Samuel!”“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”
5. He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.