Verse 4:[1] That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
[The Lord called Samuel] The voice was coming from the Holy of Holies, and it was passing over the interior place in which Eli was reclining, having progressed to the exterior place where Samuel was, who alone heard it; thus, with God willing, whose works are all wonderful in our eyes, and hence to be admired (Drusius).
[Behold, I] This expression signifies a heart ready to obey, as in Genesis 22:1; Isaiah 6:8; Acts 9:10 (Mendoza).
Verse 5:[2] 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 he ran to Eli] Thinking himself to have been called by him to some alleviation of nature, or ministry of the temple (Sanchez on verse 3). Execution follows the disposition to obey. As ready as he appeared in spirit, just so active he went out to work. This his obedience I gather from many things: 1. that he was immediately awake at the first sound, and that quiet, which was not heard by Eli. 2. He does not delay, nor await a repetition of the voice, lest perchance he should waste time; but he immediately springs from his bed, etc. 3. In his going he hastens, he runs (Mendoza).
He ran; showing his great faithfulness and diligence in the service, either of the Lord, or of his master Eli.
[I called not] The obedience of Samuel in this return to his bed does not appear to me to be any less, than in that first going forth to the priest. One going forth shows the will of obedience; one returning, the understanding also, since he believed the word of the priest, I called not, rather than his own experience. And he did not claim himself to have been called, nor convince himself that he was called (Mendoza).
[And he went forth]Not he ran, as formerly.He was swifter to leave his bed, than to return (Mendoza).