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In Shmeul Aleph Perek Gimel Shmuel becomes a Navi. Pasuk Gimel Pasuk Daled it says that Hashem called to Shmuel and he(Shmuel) said Hineni. But them Pasuk Hey continues by saying the Shmuel ran to Eli because Shmuel thinks Eli is calling him. Then for two more times Hashem calls Shmuel by his name and then runs to Eli who sends him back before Eli finally realizes it is Hashem who is calling Shmuel. Each time Shmuel speaks to Eli he says Hineni.

How do we understand that Shmuel seems to respond to Hashem in Pasuk Daled and then runs to Eli because he thinks Eli called him? Who does Shmuel think he is speaking to?

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As the Pasuk answers the question, I vote to close. A far more constructive question would be, "If prophecy was so rare, as the Pasuk goes out of its way to tell us, how did 'Eli know that HaShem was calling to Shemuel, and not merely that Shemuel was dreaming?" – Seth J Dec 6 '11 at 19:44
or sychropenic? – Jim Thio Dec 12 '12 at 15:58

closed as not a real question by Seth J, Gershon Gold, HodofHod, Monica Cellio♦ Dec 24 '12 at 2:47

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

1 Answer

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Presumably he thinks he's speaking to Eli.

Malbim explains accordingly: Shmuel's "Hineni" in v. 4 is to tell Eli, "I'm not sleeping!" and then he runs over to see just what Eli wants from him. The second and third times, then (vv. 6 and 8), he doesn't need to repeat this phrase, because Eli already knows he's awake; he just goes over and says, "I am here because you called for me."

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