دعوة الله لصموئيل

وَخَدَمَ الصَّبِيُّ صَمُوئِيلُ الرَّبَّ بِإِشْرَافِ عَالِي. وَكَانَتْ رَسَائِلُ الرَّبِّ نَادِرَةً فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ، وَالرُّؤَى عَزِيزَةً. وَحَدَثَ أَنَّ عَالِي كَانَ مُضْطَجِعاً فِي مَكَانِهِ الْمُعْتَادِ وَقَدْ كَلَّ بَصَرُهُ فَعَجَزَ عَنِ النَّظَرِ. وَبَيْنَمَا كَانَ صَمُوئِيلُ رَاقِداً فِي هَيْكَلِ الرَّبِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ تَابُوتُ اللهِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ سِرَاجُ اللهِ قَدِ انْطَفَأَ بَعْدُ، دَعَا الرَّبُّ صَمُوئِيلَ، فَأَجَابَ: «نَعَمْ». وَهَرْوَلَ نَحْوَ عَالِي قَائِلاً: «هَا أَنَا قَدْ جِئْتُ لأَنَّكَ اسْتَدْعَيْتَنِي». فَقَالَ عَالِي: «إِنَّنِي لَمْ أَدْعُكَ. عُدْ وَاضْطَجِعْ». فَرَجَعَ صَمُوئِيلُ وَرَقَدَ. ثُمَّ دَعَا الرَّبُّ صَمُوئِيلَ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً، فَنَهَضَ صَمُوئِيلُ وَمَضَى إِلَى عَالِي قَائِلاً: «هَا أَنَا جِئْتُ لأَنَّكَ دَعَوْتَنِي». فَأَجَابَهُ: «إِنَّنِي لَمْ أَدْعُكَ يَا ابْنِي، عُدْ وَاضْطَجِعْ». وَلَمْ يَكُنْ صَمُوئِيلُ قَدَ عَرَفَ الرَّبَّ بَعْدُ، وَلا تَلَقَّى مِنْهُ أَيَّةَ رِسَالَةٍ. وَدَعَا الرَّبُّ صَمُوئِيلَ مَرَّةً ثَالِثَةً، فَقَامَ وَذَهَبَ إِلَى عَالِي قَائِلاً: «هَا أَنَا قَدْ جِئْتُ لأَنَّكَ دَعَوْتَنِي». فَأَدْرَكَ عَالِي آنَئِذٍ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ هُوَ الَّذِي يَدْعُو الصَّبِيَّ، فَقَالَ عَالِي لِصَمُوئِيلَ: «اذْهَبْ وَارْقُدْ، وَإذَا دَعَاكَ الرَّبُّ فَقُلْ: تَكَلَّمْ يَا رَبُّ لأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ سَامِعٌ». فَذَهَبَ صَمُوئِيلُ وَرَقَدَ فِي مَكَانِهِ.

10 وَدَعَا الرَّبُّ كَمَا حَدَثَ فِي الْمَرَّاتِ السَّابِقَةِ: «صَمُوئِيلُ، صَمُوئِيلُ». فَأَجَابَ صَمُوئِيلُ: «تَكَلَّمْ لأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ سَامِعٌ» 11 فَقَالَ الرَّبُّ لِصَمُوئِيلَ: «هَا أَنَا مُزْمِعٌ أَنْ أُجْرِيَ أَمْراً فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَطِنُّ أُذُنَا كُلِّ مَنْ يَسْمَعُ بِهِ. 12 إِذْ أُوْقِعُ بِعَالِي كُلَّ مَا تَوَعَّدْتُ بِهِ بَيْتَهُ مِنْ أَوَّلِهِ إِلَى آخِرِهِ. 13 وَقَدْ أَنْبَأْتُهُ بِأَنَّنِي سَأَدِينُ بَيْتَهُ إِلَى الْأَبَدِ، عَلَى الشَّرِّ الَّذِي يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ابْنَيْهِ قَدْ أَوْجَبَا بِهِ اللَّعْنَةَ عَلَى نَفْسَيْهِمَا، فَلَمْ يَرْدَعْهُمَا. 14 لِهَذَا أَقْسَمْتُ أَنْ لَا يُكَفَّرَ عَنْ إِثْمِ بَيْتِ عَالِي بِذَبِيحَةٍ أَوْ تَقْدِمَةٍ إِلَى الأَبَدِ».

15 وَنَامَ صَمُوئِيلُ إِلَى الصَّبَاحِ، ثُمَّ قَامَ وَفَتَحَ أَبْوَابَ بَيْتِ الرَّبِّ. وَخَافَ أَنْ يُطْلِعَ عَالِي عَلَى الرُّؤْيَا. 16 فَاسْتَدْعَى عَالِي إِلَيْهِ صَمُوئِيلَ. 17 وَسَأَلَهُ: «بِمَاذَا خَاطَبَكَ الرَّبُّ؟ لَا تُخْفِ عَنِّي. لِيُضَاعِفِ الرَّبُّ عِقَابَكَ إِنْ أَخْفَيْتَ عَنِّي كَلِمَةً مِمَّا خَاطَبَكَ بِهِ الرَّبُّ». 18 فَأَطْلَعَهُ صَمُوئِيلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْكَلامِ، وَلَمْ يُخْفِ عَنْهُ شَيْئاً. فَقَالَ عَالِي: «إِنَّهُ الرَّبُّ، وَهُوَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ».

19 وَكَبُرَ الصَّبِيُّ. وَكَانَ الرَّبُّ مَعَهُ. لَمْ يَخْذُلْهُ قَطُّ. 20 وَعَرَفَ جَمِيعُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ دَانٍ إِلَى بِئْرِ سَبْعَ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدِ ائْتَمَنَ صَمُوئِيلَ ليَكُونَ لَهُ نَبِيًّا. 21 وَظَلَّ الرَّبُّ يَتَجَلَّى فِي شِيلُوهَ حَيْثُ كَانَ يُعْلِنُ ذَاتَهُ لِصَمُوئِيلَ مِنْ خِلالِ رَسَائِلِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ صَمُوئِيلُ يُبَلِّغُهَا لِجَمِيعِ الشَّعْبِ.

Deus aparece a Samuel

Samuel ainda era menino e ajudava Eli na adoração a Deus, o Senhor. Naqueles dias poucas mensagens vinham do Senhor, e as visões também eram muito raras. Certa noite Eli, já quase cego, estava dormindo no seu quarto. Samuel dormia na Tenda Sagrada, onde ficava a arca da aliança. E a lâmpada de Deus ainda estava acesa. Então o Senhor Deus chamou:

— Samuel, Samuel!

— Estou aqui! — respondeu ele. Então correu para onde Eli estava e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Mas Eli respondeu:

— Eu não chamei você. Volte para a cama.

E Samuel voltou.

Então o Senhor Deus tornou a chamar Samuel. O menino se levantou, foi aonde estava Eli e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Mas Eli tornou a responder:

— Eu não chamei você, filho. Volte para a cama.

Samuel não conhecia o Senhor pois o Senhor ainda não havia falado com ele.

Aí o Senhor chamou Samuel pela terceira vez. Ele se levantou, foi aonde Eli estava e disse:

— O senhor me chamou? Estou aqui.

Então Eli compreendeu que era o Senhor quem estava chamando o menino e ordenou:

— Volte para a cama e, se ele chamar você outra vez, diga: “Fala, ó Senhor, pois o teu servo está escutando!”

E Samuel voltou para a cama.

10 Então o Senhor veio e ficou ali. E, como havia feito antes, disse:

— Samuel, Samuel!

— Fala, pois o teu servo está escutando! — respondeu Samuel.

11 E o Senhor disse:

— Eu vou fazer com o povo de Israel uma coisa tão terrível, que todos os que ouvirem a respeito disso ficarão apavorados. 12 Naquele dia farei contra Eli tudo o que disse a respeito da família dele, do começo até o fim. 13 Eu lhe disse que ia castigar a sua família para sempre porque os seus filhos disseram coisas más contra mim. Eli sabia que eu ia fazer isso, mas não os fez parar. 14 Por isso, juro à família de Eli que nenhum sacrifício ou oferta poderá apagar o seu terrível pecado.

15 Samuel ficou na cama até de manhã. Aí se levantou e abriu os portões da área da Tenda Sagrada. Ele estava com medo de falar com Eli sobre a visão que havia tido. 16 Mas Eli o chamou:

— Samuel, meu filho!

— Estou aqui! — respondeu ele.

17 — O que foi que Deus lhe disse? — perguntou Eli. — Não esconda nada de mim. Deus o castigará severamente se você não me contar tudo o que ele disse.

18 Então Samuel contou tudo, sem esconder nada. E Eli disse:

— Ele é Deus, o Senhor. Que ele faça tudo o que achar melhor!

19 E Samuel cresceu. O Senhor estava com ele e fazia tudo o que Samuel dizia que ia acontecer. 20 Assim todo o povo de Israel, do Norte ao Sul do país, ficou sabendo que Samuel era, de fato, um profeta do Senhor. 21 O Senhor continuou a aparecer em Siló, onde havia se revelado a Samuel e falado com ele. E a palavra de Samuel era respeitada por todo o povo de Israel.

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

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;

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.

21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

The Lord Calls Samuel

The boy Samuel ministered(A) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;(B) there were not many visions.(C)

One night Eli, whose eyes(D) were becoming so weak that he could barely see,(E) was lying down in his usual place. The lamp(F) of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house(G) of the Lord, where the ark(H) of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.(I) And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know(J) the Lord: The word(K) of the Lord had not yet been revealed(L) to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!(M)

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.(N) 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything(O) I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain(P) them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned(Q) for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide(R) it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely,(S) if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”(T)

19 The Lord was with(U) Samuel as he grew(V) up, and he let none(W) of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba(X) recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.(Y) 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed(Z) himself to Samuel through his word.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 3:13 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text sons made themselves contemptible