<Dl> <Dd> If He calls you, then you must say, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears". </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> If He calls you, then you must say, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears". </Dd> <P> Once Samuel responded, the Lord told him that the wickedness of the sons of Eli had resulted in their dynasty being condemned to destruction . In the morning, Samuel was hesitant about reporting the message to Eli, but Eli asked him honestly to recount to him what he had been told by the Lord . Upon receiving the communication, Eli merely said that the Lord should do what seems right unto him . </P> <P> This event established that Samuel was now "established as a prophet of the Lord" and "all Israel from Dan to Beersheba" became aware of his prophetic calling . Anglican theologian Donald Spence Jones comments that "the minds of all the people were thus gradually prepared when the right moment came to acknowledge Samuel as a God - sent chieftain" </P>

How old was samuel when he was brought to the temple