שמואל א, פרק ג׳, פסוק ו׳

A repeated call in the dead of night prompts a careful shift in behavior for both the young student and his elderly teacher. The second time the voice rings out, the boy reacts with hesitation. Unlike his first quick response, he does not answer immediately from his bed, nor does he run swiftly to his master [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. This slower reaction stems from a sense of embarrassment over his previous mistake [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. He also begins to doubt himself, wondering if the voice is simply a trick of his own imagination [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Even so, he makes his way to his teacher. Guided by the light of the lamp, he can clearly see that there is no one else in the Tabernacle who could possibly be calling out to him [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. When he finally addresses his master, he is much more decisive. He feels confident that since the call happened twice, his teacher will no longer be able to deny summoning him [אברבנאל].

The elderly teacher's response shifts as well. Instead of showing frustration, he answers softly and without any scolding, tenderly addressing the boy as his son. The primary approach among commentators suggests that this gentle tone marks a turning point in the teacher's mind. He begins to suspect that the voice is not merely a dream or a figment of the boy's imagination [ביאור שטיינזלץ], since a healthy person does not typically experience the exact same hallucination over and over [אברבנאל]. Realizing that something profound might be happening, he speaks with warmth and love to ensure the boy does not feel sad or ashamed. Sadness acts as a barrier to receiving prophecy, so the teacher comforts him and sends him back to bed to see if the voice will return [מלבי״ם].

Conversely, another perspective argues that the affectionate title is actually used as a gentle proof that the teacher is not the one calling. It was the master's regular habit to address his beloved student affectionately as his son. Since the mysterious voice only used the boy's first name, the teacher points out this difference. He wants the young man to understand immediately that the voice lacks this familiar warmth, proving it is not his teacher calling, but merely an illusion brought on by a deep sleep [חומת אנך].