When did Samuel begin ministering to the Lord?

Question:

Hi Jeff,

At what age did the prophet Samuel begin ministering to the Lord? A teacher said seven years.

Answer:

We don't know. Samuel was brought to the tabernacle after he was weaned (I Samuel 1:23-24), so he could be anywhere from 2 to 5 years old. As a boy, he served in the tabernacle for several years (I Samuel 2:18-19), but it isn't mentioned when he started. The impression is that he started immediately because the Bible says he served the Lord right after it mentions that his father returned home (I Samuel 2:11).