1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2And one night, when Eli was lying in his place, and his eyes had grown dim, so that he could barely see, 3And before the lamp of God had gone out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was sleeping; 4That the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here am I.” 5And he ran to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you called me.” And Eli said, “I did not call you; go back and lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called again, “Samuel.” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you did call me.” And he replied, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8And the LORD called Samuel a third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you did call me.” And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9So Eli told Samuel, “Go, lie down: and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD; for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10And the LORD came, stood there, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel answered, “Speak; for Your servant hears.” 11And the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel, that will make both ears of everyone that hears it tingle. 12In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have warned him concerning his family; and when I begin, I will also finish. 13For I have told him that I will judge his family forever for the evil which he knows of, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14Therefore I have sworn to Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's family shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

15And Samuel lay until the morning, and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called him, and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here am I.” 17And he said, “What is the thing that the LORD has said to you? I pray you, do not hide it from me; may God deal severely with you, if you keep anything from me of all that He said to you.” 18And so Samuel told him everything, keeping nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.”

19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did not let any of Samuel’s words ever be proven false. 20And all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. 21And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh; and the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by His word.