What was the relationship between Eli and Samuel?
Samuel grew up at Shiloh serving the Lord with Eli. When the Lord called him at night, Eli taught him how to answer. 1 Samuel 2:11; 1 Samuel 3:8-9
What the Bible says
1 Samuel 3:9
And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep: and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and slept in his place.
1 Samuel 3:10
And the Lord came and stood: and he called, as he had called the other times: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Did you know?
The next morning, Samuel told Eli everything the Lord had said to him, holding nothing back. 1 Samuel 3:15-18