1 Samuel 3:7

“Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, etc.] He knew that Jehovah, the God of Israel, was the true God; he had spiritual knowledge of him, and knew somewhat of his word and worship, ways and ordinances, in which he had been instructed by Eli; wherefore, though the Targum is, “Samuel had not yet learned to know doctrine from the Lord;” it can only be understood, that he had not learnt it perfectly; somewhat he knew of it, but in an imperfect manner, being a child: but the sense of the word is, that as yet he was ignorant that God had used to speak with ordinary and familiar voice to men, as Maimonides says f71; he perhaps had never heard of any such thing, and much less was experimentally…”

“Did not yet know the Lord - i. e. in His supernatural communication, as follows at the end of the verse. The text rendering of this verse is better than that of the margin. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Did not know - He was not acquainted with God in that extraordinary or prophetical way. And this ignorance of Samuel's served God's design, that his simplicity might give Eli the better assurance of the truth of God's call, and message to Samuel. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 3:10”

“3:7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord: He lacked direct experience of the Lord. In contrast, Eli’s sons did not know the Lord (see study note on 2:12) in that they were morally and spiritually deficient.”

“Now Samuel: Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him. did not yet: Samuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel, but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets. Jer 9:24; Act 19:2 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 3:8”