1 Samuel 7

The Ark is carried and placed in Kiriath-Jearim verse.1,&c. Samuel exhorteth the peple to repentance , and putting away of Idols, 3. The Israelites obey him, 4. A fast or day of humiliation, 6. The Philistines intend to set upon the Israelites: the Israelites are afraid, 7. Samuel offereth and prayeth unto the Lord for Israel : he, and the people are heard, 9. The lord terrifieth the Philistines with thunder, and they are smitten, 10. Samuel setteth up a stone at Mizpa,for a memorial of the victory 12. The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines, as long as Samuel lived, 13. The Israelites recover those cities, which the Philistines had taken from them, 14. Samuel passeth thorow, and visiteh all the cities of the land, 16, and returneth to Rama, 17.

1. Then came the men of Kiruath-Jearim [see concerning this city the annotat. on.Judges 18:12] and fetcht up the Ark of the LORD, and they brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill; [Oth at Gibea] and they hallowed his son Eleazar, [i.e consecrated, or ordained him to an holy ministery] that he might keep the Ark of the LORD.

2. And it came to passe, from that day, that the Ark (of the Lord) abode at Kiriath-Jearim, and the dayes were multiplied, and they were twenty years : and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. [Others, sighed unto the Lord, viz. when they were grievously oppressed by the Philistines, see below v.3.]

3. Then spake Samuel unto all the house of Israel, saying : if ye do turn unto the Lord with all your heart, then put away the strange Gods [heb. The gods of strangers : he meaneth the idols of strange or out land is nations, that lay round, also about them] out of the midst of you, also the Astharots, [see judg.2.13.] and compose your heart unto the lord, and serve him onely, then he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4. Now the children of Israel did put away the Baalims [see Judg chap 2.1.1] and the Astharots, [Baalim is a masculine name, but Asthroth is feminine name: so that here is spoken for the idols or Idolesses, or he- and the-idols of the heathen] and they served the Lord onely.

5. Moreover Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpa: [Here the Israelites were wont to keep their land meetings: See Judg.20.v.1. Samuel thought good to gather people here together, that he might unto the Lord for them, and thy likewise might join with him in prayer unto Lord] and I will pray unto the Lord for you.

6. And they gathered together at Mizpa, and they drew water, and poured it out before the face of the LORD, [Which was a token that they poured out their hearts (being washed and cleansed from sinne) before the Lord, see the like 1Sam.11.15. The meaning is, they cried unto the Lord heartily for deliverance: where-unto likewise their fasting appertained] and they fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD: so Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpa. [i.e. he governed them, and he brought them by his good counsel and exhortation unto repentance. See the Annotat. On Judg.2.15.]

7. When the Philistines heard, that the children of Israel had gathered themselves together at Mizpa, then the Prince of the Philistines came up [viz, With armies, military forces, as appeareth ver.10.] against Israel: when the children of Israel heard (it), they feared before the face [i.e. by reason of the coming. See the annotat. on Gen.36.6] of the Philistines.

8. And the children of Israel said unto Samuel, Be not silent in our behalf, [Or, cease no, be not quite from us, from crying, See Job 13. On verse 13.] that thou shouldest not cry unto the LORD or God, that he may deliver us from the hand of the Philistines.

9. Then took Samuel a milk-lamb, [i.e. A young lamb, that yet sucked its mothers or dams milk] and he [viz he himself, or by a Priest] offered it whole unto the LORD for burnt offering: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him. [Or answered him]

10. And it came to pass, when Samuel offered that burnt offering, that the Philistines came on to battle against Israel, and the LORD thundered with a great thunder [Heb voice] on that day upon the Philistines, and he affrighted them, so that they were smitten before the face of the Israel.

11. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpa: and pursued the philistines: and they smote them till under Bethraz.

12. Now Samuel took a stone, and set (it) between Mizpa, and between Sen, [i.e. The Tooth, and by similitude, a Rock, which sticketh out sharp like a Tooth, as 1 Samuel 14:4, 5] and he called the name thereof Ebenezer : [i.e. help-stone, or, stone of help] and he said hitherto hath the Lord holpen us.

13. So the Philistines were humbled, and came no more [Oth. Not again, Heb. They went on no more to come, viz. With Armies, to take any cities from Israel; but they had and kept still their garrisons and soldiers upon the frontiers, to keep and preserve the fame, as may be seen, 1 Sam 10.5. Or, no more, signifieth here in a long time not again. Or, no more, for so often, as Genesis 32:28. & 2 King.6.23, 24] into the borders of Israel: [i.e. into the land of the Israelites] for the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel, from Ekron unto Gath, also Israel delivered the border thereof out of the hand of the Philistines: and there was peace between Israel and Amorites. [Understand under the name Amorites, also other nations of the land of Canaan, or of the Philistines. The meaning is, they made no public War one against another.]

15. Now Samuel judged Israel [See above verse 6.] all the days of his life. [viz. From that day ha was made Judge, until the day of his death, for although Saul reigned as King, yet Samuel continued likewise in the government, and they ruled both together 40 years, as appears Acts 13:21.]

16. And he went from year to year, and went about to bethel, [This may be understood of the City Bethel, or of the house of God ( for that signifies Bethel,) and so should here be understood Kiriath-Jearim, where at that time the Ark of the Covenant was] and Gilgal, and Mizpa: and he judged Israel in all those places.

17. But he returned to Rama, [This city is called, 1Sam.1.1Ramathaim, See thee annotate. there Heb. and his return was Rama.] there was his house, and he judged Israel [i.e. he had there his ordinary habitation: when he had gone round about, or walked throughout the land, he came thither again] and he built there an Altar unto the LORD.