Before receiving this message from God, "Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him;" that is, he was not acquainted with such direct manifestations of God's presence as were granted to the prophets. It was the Lord's purpose to reveal Himself in an unexpected manner, that Eli might hear of it through the surprise and inquiry of the youth.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over 1 Sam 3-7
Elis hus skulle have endnu en advarsel. Gud kunne ikke tale til ypperstepræsten og hans sønner, fordi deres synder var som en tæt sky, der skilte dem fra Helligånden. Men til trods for al den ondskab, som barnet Samuel var omgivet af, blev han ved med at vise Himmelen troskab, og han fik nu betroet den opgave at overbringe Elis hus domsbudskabet i sin egenskab af den Allerhøjestes profet.