Samuel was established by God to speak the word of God to replace the teaching of the word of God by the old priesthood. In the priesthood the first thing that a priest should do is speak for God. The breastplate and the Urim and the Thummim worn by the high priest were the means used by God to speak to His people (see Exo. 28:30 and notes). In the degradation of the priesthood God’s speaking was almost lost (v. 1). Thus, God needed to raise up a living person, a prophet, to speak for Him. In God’s ordination Samuel is counted as the first prophet because he brought in the prophethood for God’s speaking (Acts 3:24; 13:20; Heb. 11:32).

First, God’s severe judgment on the house of Eli was prophesied by a man of God (1 Sam. 2:27-36). Then, this severe judgment was confirmed by the word of Jehovah spoken through Samuel (vv. 4-18). God’s purpose in telling Eli through Samuel of the coming judgment might have been to make an unforgettable impression on this young priestly boy. This was God’s wisdom.

See note 1 Sam. 3:20¹.