Seeing as only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy Place (Leviticus 16:1–34), we can be certain that Samuel was not sleeping in this section of the tabernacle. It is possible that he slept in the main room of the tabernacle where the golden lampstand was burning,1 however, this was not meant to be sleeping quarters. More likely, he slept in a room very close to the tabernacle, adjacent to or near Eli’s quarters.2
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.