Eli placed Samuel under a curse if he did not fully disclose all that the Lord has spoken to him. Faced with this threat, Samuel held nothing back and told everything to Eli.1 Most likely this was done to help Samuel. Eli knew that the task of a prophet was to speak God’s word to his people (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–22), to speak a truth which people are not necessarily willing and eager to hear.2 By placing Samuel under a curse if he would withheld truth, he is helping Samuel to fulfill his prophetic task, encouraging him to God’s truth no matter the consequences.
17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”