The Prophetic Call to Samuel

3 Now ^(A)the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli. And ^(B)word from the Lord was rare in those days, ^[a]visions were infrequent.

⁹ Samuel took ^(A)a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and ^(B)the Lord answered him.

¹² They answered them and said, “He is; ^[a]see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for ^(A)the people have a sacrifice on ^(B)the high place today. ¹³ As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because ^(C)he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.”