Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Sa1 3:1, How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel; Sa1 3:11, God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli's house; Sa1 3:15, Samuel, though loath, tells Eli the vision; Sa1 3:19, Samuel grows in credit.
the child: Sa1 3:15, Sa1 2:11, Sa1 2:18
the word: Sa1 3:21; Psa 74:9; Isa 13:12; Amo 8:11, Amo 8:12
his eyes: Sa1 2:22, Sa1 4:15; Gen 27:1, Gen 48:19; Psa 90:10; Ecc 12:3
ere: Before sun-rise. for it is probable the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun; see the parallel passages.
the lamp: Exo 27:20, Exo 27:21, Exo 30:7, Exo 30:8; Lev 24:2-4; Ch2 13:11
the temple: Sa1 1:6; Psa 5:7, Psa 27:4, Psa 29:9
called Samuel: Gen 22:1; Exo 3:4; Psa 99:6; Act 9:4; Co1 12:6-11, Co1 12:28; Gal 1:15, Gal 1:16
Sa1 4:16; Gen 43:29; Sa2 18:22; Mat 9:2
Now Samuel: Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.
did not yet: Samuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel, but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets. Jer 9:24; Act 19:2
the third: Job 33:14, Job 33:15; Although Samuel did not apprehend the way in which God reveals himself to his servants the prophets - by the "still small voice" - yet when this direct communication from the Almighty was made the third time, in a way altogether new and strange to him, it seems astonishing that he did not immediately apprehend. Perhaps he would have been sooner aware of a divine revelation, had it come in a dream or a vision. Those who have the greatest knowledge of divine things, should remember the time when they were as babes, unskilful in the word of righteousness. Co1 13:11, Co1 13:12
Speak: Exo 20:19; Psa 85:8; Isa 6:8; Dan 10:19; Act 9:6
the Lord came: This seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.
as at other: Sa1 3:4-6, Sa1 3:8; Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word. he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.
I will do: Isa 29:14; Amo 3:6, Amo 3:7; Hab 1:5; Act 13:41
both the ears: Kg2 21:12; Isa 28:19; Jer 19:3; Luk 21:26
I will perform: Sa1 2:27-36; Num 23:19; Jos 23:15; Zac 1:6; Luk 21:33
when I begin: etc. Heb. beginning and ending
For I have told him: or, And I will tell him, etc. Sa1 2:27-30, Sa1 2:31-36
I will: Ch2 20:12; Eze 7:3, Eze 18:30; Joe 3:12
which he knoweth: Kg1 2:44; Ecc 7:22; Jo1 3:20
his sons: Sa1 2:12, Sa1 2:17, Sa1 2:22, Sa1 2:23-26
vile: or, accursed
restrained them not: Heb. frowned not upon them, Sa1 2:23-25; Kg1 1:6; Pro 19:18, Pro 23:13, Pro 23:14, Pro 29:15; Mat 10:37
the iniquity: Sa1 2:25; Num 15:30, Num 15:31; Psa 51:16; Isa 22:14; Jer 7:16, Jer 15:1; Eze 24:13; Heb 10:4-10, Heb 10:26-31
Samuel: Samuel reverenced Eli as a father, and feared to distress him by shewing what God had purposed to do. It does not appear that God commanded Samuel to deliver this message; he therefore did not attempt it till adjured by Eli. It might be supposed that Samuel would have been so full of ecstasy as to have forgotten his ordinary service, and run amongst his friends to tell them of the converse he had with God in the night, but he modestly keeps it to himself. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed on the house-top.
feared: Jer 1:6-8; Co1 16:10, Co1 16:11
I pray thee: Psa 141:5; Dan 4:19; Mic 2:7
God: Sa1 20:13; Rut 1:17; Sa2 3:35, Sa2 19:13; Kg1 22:16; Mat 26:63
more also: Heb. so add
thing: or, word
every whit: Heb. all the things, or, words, Whit, or wid, comes from the Anglo-Saxon wiht, which signifies person, thing, etc.. every whit is every thing: equivalent to every jot.
It is the Lord: Gen 18:25; Jdg 10:15; Sa2 16:10-12; Job 1:21, Job 2:10; Psa 39:9; Isa 39:8; Lam 3:39; Pe1 5:6
grew: Sa1 2:21; Jdg 13:24; Luk 1:80, Luk 2:40, Luk 2:52
the Lord: Sa1 18:14; Gen 39:2, Gen 39:21-23; Isa 43:2; Mat 1:23; Luk 1:28; Co2 13:11, Co2 13:14; Ti2 4:22
let none: Sa1 9:6; Kg1 8:56; Isa 44:26
Dan: Jdg 20:1; Sa2 3:10, Sa2 17:11
established: or, faithful, Ti1 1:12
And the Lord: Wyyoseph yehowah lehairaoh, "And Jehovah added to appear:" that is, He continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh.