He said, ‘Don’t be afraid, you who are treasured by God. Peace to you; be very strong! ’ As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’
Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.
‘Neither,’ he replied. ‘I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.’ Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in homage and asked him, ‘What does my lord want to say to his servant? ’