1. The boy Samuel was Eli’s helper and served the Lord with him. At that time the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions.
2. Eli’s eyes were getting so weak that he was almost blind. One night he went to his room to go to bed.
3. The special lamp in the Lord’S temple was still burning, so Samuel lay down in the temple near where the Holy Box was.
4. The Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
5. Samuel thought Eli was calling him, so he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.