וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל טֶ֖רֶם יָדַ֣ע אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְטֶ֛רֶם יִגָּלֶ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו דְּבַר־יְהוָֽה׃
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
Read midrashic interpretation of I Samuel 3:7: and classical rabbinic exegesis.