Verse 10:[1] And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
[And the Lord came, and stood, etc.] The former callings were, 1. as from one at a distance: 2. according to the manner of one passing by. Now, however, He came: Samuel was now recognizing the Lord, not as absent, but as the present author of his calling. And He stood, which is to say, He remained present (Mendoza). It signifies that He inspired these things, not only in the mind of Samuel; but that it was spoken to him with an audible voice in an assumed body (Lapide). He stood, that is, He stood by him; that is, He appeared to him in a certain form (Vatablus), or bodily appearance, speaking with him (Munster).
The Lord came; before, he spake to him at a distance, even from the holy oracle between the cherubims; but now, to prevent all further mistakes, the voice came near to him, as if the person speaking had been present with him. And stood; before, the voice passed by him, now the speaker fixeth his abode with him for a time, till he had uttered his whole mind to him.
[And He called as He had called a second time] Question: How is it the second time? Rather, it is the fourth time. For He had previously called three times. Responses: 1. A second time is put in the place of again and repeatedly. 2. Or it has regard to the name of Samuel twice repeated (Sanchez). 3. The Hebrew has it otherwise: כְפַעַם־בְּפַעַם, as once and again (Pagnine). Verbatim: according to an interchange in an interchange (Vatablus); once and once (Septuagint). פַּעַם sometimes signifies on one occasion; which is to say, just as He had called on several occasions (Drusius).
As at other times; as he had done before. Samuel, Samuel; his name is here doubled, to engage him to the more speedy and diligent attention.
[1] Hebrew: וַיָּבֹ֤א יְהוָה֙ וַיִּתְיַצַּ֔ב וַיִּקְרָ֥א כְפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל׀ שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ דַּבֵּ֔ר כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃