Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for your servant hears.
"And I tell him"  (1 Samuel 3:13).  As Willis pointed out, "The best translation here is that of the King James Version, `I (have) told him.'"[21]  The same scholar also wrote that it is "most likely" that, "Yahweh is referring back to his previous announcement to Eli through the `man of God'  (1 Samuel 2:31-32,36)."[22]  The purpose of this, apparently, was to inform Samuel that Eli already knew about the punishment that God would bring upon him.