3 and Samuel was sleeping on a mat near the sacred chest in the Lord's house. They had not been asleep very long
4 when the Lord called out Samuel's name.“Here I am!” Samuel answered.
5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”“I didn't call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to bed.”Samuel went back.
6 Again the Lord called out Samuel's name. Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “What do you want?”Eli told him, “Son, I didn't call you. Go back to sleep.”
7 The Lord had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice.
8 When the Lord called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, “Here I am. What do you want?”Eli finally realized that it was the Lord who was speaking to Samuel.
9 So he said, “Go back and lie down! If someone speaks to you again, answer, ‘I'm listening, Lord. What do you want me to do?’ ”Once again Samuel went back and lay down.