Another warning was to be given to Eli's house. God could not communicate with the high priest and his sons; their sins, like a thick cloud, had shut out the presence of His Holy Spirit. But in the midst of evil the child Samuel remained true to Heaven, and the message of condemnation to the house of Eli was Samuel's commission as a prophet of the Most High.

Eli blev dog ikke misundelig eller skinsyg. Han sagde til Samuel, at han skulle svare således, hvis der blev kaldt på ham igen: "Tal, Herre, din tjener hører!" Stemmen lød endnu engang, og barnet svarede: "Tal, din tjener hører!" Han var så overvældet ved tanken om, at den store Gud ville tale til han, at han ikke kunne huske nøjagtigt, hvad Eli bød ham at sige.