1 Samuel 3:1-20

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
  • The text from the Jewish Publication Society.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Chapter III, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). (Longer version only - 4th cent interpolation.)
  • Vision I.3, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Josephus writes that Samuel was 12 years old when the Lord appeared to him."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to the call."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "God did not impart his Mind by way of vision or revelation openly, or to any public person, to whom others might resort for satisfaction, though he might privately reveal himself to some pious persons for their particular direction. This is premised, as a reason why Samuel understood not, when God called him once or twice."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The three successive calls addressed to the boy convinced Eli of the divine character of the speaker, and he therefore exhorted the child to give a reverential attention to the message."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Beth Tanner, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "What does it mean to be called by God?"
  • "Is God Still Speaking? Samuel and the Silence of God," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2009.
    • "When and why have you ever felt the silence of God?"
  • 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20), Epiphany 2, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "Even though we know his family is condemned, and Eli himself seems powerless to do anything, he is wise enough in the faith to direct the young Samuel to the point where he can ‘hear’ what Yahweh has to say to him."
  • 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "It is interesting to reflect on this story in light of the power struggles that often plague our church and the way they curtail energy for the task of mission/evangelism."
  • Lectionary Commentary, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Herbert R. Marbury, The African American Lectionary, 2009.
    • "When we empower children by ensuring that they have healthcare and housing, quality education and safe environments, then they will hear a word from the Lord and heal our land!"
  • "Not about Me," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Prayer," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2009. Focus article: "Not about Me," Merold Westphal.
  • "The Call of Samuel," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "Have I experienced God in the early morning? Or, have I experienced my own weakness? Can I see my self as Eli or as Samuel? Or as both?"
  • "A Word and a Calling," Susan B.W. Johnson, The Christian Century, 1997.
    • "Cyril wrote his prebaptismal lesson for his catechumens, whom he called 'photizomenoi' (those being enlightened). He vividly describes the assurance with which the word of the Lord works -- even on those who know but do not yet know."
  • "For Every Season," Cantor Naomi Hirsch, Urim v'Tumim, Yale University.
    • "As we begin a new year, how can we be fully present to the roll calls we may hear? What does it mean to say, "Hineni, I am here?" How shall we enter a new place and make the minhag ha-makom, the local customs, our own?"
  • "The Rise of Samuel and the Fall of Eli and Sons (1 Samuel 3:1 - 4:22)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Men were not listening to God in those days, and God did not speak very often. This “silence” is often a form of divine judgment, and if not broken, would prove to be Israel’s undoing (see 1 Samuel 28; Psalm 74:9; Isaiah 29:9-14; Micah 3:6-7; also Proverbs 29:18). We are told that prophecy was rare, so that we see the calling of Samuel as an end to God’s silence (see 1 Samuel 3:19-21)."
• Articles & Background:
  • Eli and his Two Sons of Belial, from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
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  • Firth, David G., "'Play it again, Sam': The Poetics of Narrative Repetition in 1 Samuel 1-7," Tyndale Bulletin, 2005.
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  • Harvey, John E., "Tendenz and Textual Criticism in 1 Samuel 2-10," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2001.
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  • Johnson, Susan B.W., "A Word and a Calling," The Christian Century, 1997.
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  • Leuchter, Mark, "'Now There Was a [Certain] Man': compositional Chronology in Judges - 1 Samuel," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2007.
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  • Lewis, Peter E., "Is There a Parallel between 1 Samuel 3 and the Sixth Chapter of the Egyptian Book of the Dead?" Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2007.
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  • Prince, Robert, "Top Ten Preaching Texts from 1 Samuel," Review and Expositor, 2002.
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  • Ruffin, Michael L., "First Samuel 3:1-20," Interpretation, 1997.
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  • Spina, Frank Anthony, "Eli's Seat: The Transition from Priest to Prophet in 1 Samuel 1-4," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1994.
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  • Wardlaw, Theodore J., "News from Our Forebears: The Calling Voice," Journal for Preachers, 2003.
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• Reviews:
  • Reviews: Shaul Bar, A Letter That Has Not Been Read: Dreams in the Hebrew Bible. Hebrew Union College Press, 2001. Reviews by Robert Gnuse and Frances Flanner-Dailey in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
• Sermons:
  • "Great, Good Work," Stephen B. Chapman, 1 Samuel 3:1-21, Faith & Leadership, Duke Divinity, 2010.
  • "Avoiding Absurd Living," Dr. Mickey Anders, Lectionary.org.
  • "Having Trouble Sleeping through the Night?" the Rev. Dr. William J. Carl, Day 1, 2008.
  • "Samuel," from an Old Testament Sermon Series, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
  • "Call Answerers," the Rev. Dr. George Mason, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Not Without a Witness," the Rev. Irvin Moxley, Day 1, 1997.
  • "Words that Fall to the Ground," Gracia Grindal, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1999.
• With Children:
  • "God Calls Samuel by His Name," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Samuel Is Called," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "The Call of Samuel," online computer java-based coloring pages from Grace Baptist Church of Feeding Hill.
  • 1 Samuel 3:9, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art: Calling of Samuel, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 Samuel 3:1, 10. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Samuel