God’s promise breaks into our darkness when we need it the most.
“It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),” (v.2). This verse places us in the sacred setting of the tabernacle in Shiloh, the central place of worship in Israel before the temple was established in Jerusalem. Shiloh, located in the hill country of Ephraim, served as Israel’s religious center for many years, and it was here that Eli served as priest. As the verse describes, Eli was resting, indicating that night had fallen, while he began experiencing the effects of old age. We are told his vision had deteriorated significantly, setting both a literal and symbolic tone for the chapter—his diminished sight mirrored the spiritual dimness that plagued the nation of Israel in this era.
The person in this scene, Eli, fits into Israel’s history during the period of the judges in the 11th century BC. He served as both priest and judge for Israel during a time of sporadic faithfulness among the people. His role was significant in guiding worship and sacrifices, yet by this point in his life, the physical limitations of age foreshadowed a transition in leadership. This portrayal of Eli’s waning strength sets the stage for the calling of Samuel, through whom God would provide fresh guidance for the people. Indeed, later in the chapter, God calls Samuel by name in the night, alluding to the arrival of a new era of leadership (1 Samuel 3:4-10).
“It happened at that time...” (v.2) also subtly points toward an environment ripe for a renewed word from the Lord. In a broader scriptural sense, Israel often experienced renewed direction after periods of silence or decline (Judges 2:16-19). Here, God was about to speak to Samuel in a profound way, prefiguring the ultimate plan of redemption that finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ (John 1:45). Eli’s condition of dim eyesight highlights the necessity of divine revelation, both in Israel’s immediate context and in our own lives.
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1 Samuel 3:2 meaning
“It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),” (v.2). This verse places us in the sacred setting of the tabernacle in Shiloh, the central place of worship in Israel before the temple was established in Jerusalem. Shiloh, located in the hill country of Ephraim, served as Israel’s religious center for many years, and it was here that Eli served as priest. As the verse describes, Eli was resting, indicating that night had fallen, while he began experiencing the effects of old age. We are told his vision had deteriorated significantly, setting both a literal and symbolic tone for the chapter—his diminished sight mirrored the spiritual dimness that plagued the nation of Israel in this era.
The person in this scene, Eli, fits into Israel’s history during the period of the judges in the 11th century BC. He served as both priest and judge for Israel during a time of sporadic faithfulness among the people. His role was significant in guiding worship and sacrifices, yet by this point in his life, the physical limitations of age foreshadowed a transition in leadership. This portrayal of Eli’s waning strength sets the stage for the calling of Samuel, through whom God would provide fresh guidance for the people. Indeed, later in the chapter, God calls Samuel by name in the night, alluding to the arrival of a new era of leadership (1 Samuel 3:4-10).
“It happened at that time...” (v.2) also subtly points toward an environment ripe for a renewed word from the Lord. In a broader scriptural sense, Israel often experienced renewed direction after periods of silence or decline (Judges 2:16-19). Here, God was about to speak to Samuel in a profound way, prefiguring the ultimate plan of redemption that finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ (John 1:45). Eli’s condition of dim eyesight highlights the necessity of divine revelation, both in Israel’s immediate context and in our own lives.