What does 1 Samuel 3:11 mean?
After establishing that what Samuel hears is the voice of God (1 Samuel 3:1–10), the Lord is about to deliver His message. Samuel has obediently responded by telling the Lord that he is listening (1 Samuel 3:10).The Lord introduces His surprising and difficult prophecy for Samuel by saying that what He is about to do will get a great deal of attention. The effect of this action is describe with an odd expression implying shocking, devastating, even frightening news (Jeremiah 19:3). The original Hebrew root word here is tsalal, which is closely tied to the idea of shaking or vibrating. This might depict a person who shakes with fear (Habakkuk 3:16), or the "ringing in the ears" experienced when someone is struck in the head (2 Kings 21:12). When God's prophecy is fulfilled, it will stagger those who see it come to pass.
First Samuel 3:1–14 finds both Samuel and Eli a bit older, though Samuel is still called a boy. Sometime before dawn, Samuel is sleeping in the temple and hears his name called. He runs to Eli, who tells him to go back to bed. When it happens a third time, Eli tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord reveals to Samuel that He is going to bring judgment on Eli and his household for Eli's failure to restrain the blasphemy of his sons against the Lord.
Samuel is just a boy when the Lord calls Him to serve as a prophet in Israel. Sleeping in the temple, Samuel hears his name and thinks Eli the priest is calling him. Eli finally tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord tells Samuel that He is going to fulfill His judgment against Eli and his household for the sins of Eli's sons and for Eli's failure to restrain them. Samuel delivers the entire message to Eli and begins his lifelong career as an official prophet of the Lord.
