Chapter
Verse
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1 Samuel 3:2

ESV At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
NIV One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
NASB But it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to be poor and he could not see well),
CSB One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place.
NLT One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
KJV And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

What does 1 Samuel 3:2 mean?

This chapter takes place at night in the tabernacle at Shiloh, north of Jerusalem. The sanctuary at Shiloh was the main place the people of Israel came to make sacrifices to God and to worship Him.

Eli the priest is now quite old, and his eyesight is failing. In fact, he is described as nearly blind, being unable to see much at all. It's likely that Samuel's work for the old priest has increased as Eli's eyesight has faded away. This verse adds that Eli was lying down in his normal place for sleeping. It will become clear that his sleeping spot was not in the same place as Samuel's, yet not far from the space where the ark of the covenant was kept (1 Samuel 3:3).
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