1The ark is brought into the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, where it is kept by one of his sons, and abideth twenty years. 3At the exhortation of Samuel the Israelites solemnly repent at Mizpeh. 7The people are alarmed with an irruption of the Philistines. 9While Samuel prayeth and sacrificeth, the Lord discomfiteth the Philistines with thunder at Eben-ezer. 13The Philistines are subdued. 15Samuel peaceably and religiously judgeth Israel.
1AND the men of 1Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, anda brought it into the house of Abinadab 2in the hill, and 3sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1 See concerning this city the annotation on Judges 18:12.
a 2 Sam. 6:4.
2 Other, at Gibeah.
3 That is, consecrated or ordained him to an holy ministry.
2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel 4lamented after the LORD.
4 Others, sighed unto the Lord, namely, when they were grievously oppressed by the Philistines. See verse 3.
3¶And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away 5the strange gods and 6Ashtaroth from among you, and prepareb your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
5 Hebr. the gods of strangers; he means the idols of the strange or foreign nations, that were round about them.
6 See Judges 2:13.
b Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Mat. 4:10; Luke 4:8.
4Then the children of Israel did put away 7Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
7 See Judges 2:11. Baal is a masculine name, but Ashtaroth is a feminine name; so that here is spoken of the male idols and female idols of the heathen.
5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to 8Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
8 Here the Israelites were wont to keep their land-meetings: See Judges 20:1. Samuel thought good to gather the people here together, that he would pray unto the Lord for them, and they likewise might join with him in prayer unto the Lord.
6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and 9poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel 10judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
9 Which was a sign that they poured out their hearts (being washed and cleansed from sin) before the Lord. See similarly 1 Sam. 1:15. The meaning is: They cried unto the Lord heartily for deliverance; whereunto likewise their fasting appertained.
10 That is, he governed them, and he brought them, by his good counsel and exhortation, unto repentance. See the annotation on Judges 2:16.
7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, 11the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid 12of the Philistines.
11 Namely, with armies, military forces, as appears verse 10.
12 That is, by reason of the arrival. See the annotation on Gen. 36:6.
8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 13Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
13 Or, cease not, be not quiet from us, from crying, etc. See Job 13 on verse 13.
9¶And Samuel took a 14sucking lamb, and 15offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD 16heard him.
14 That is, a young lamb, that yet sucked its mother’s milk.
15 He himself, or by a priest.
16 Or, answered him.
10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great 17thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfitedc them; and they were smitten before Israel.
17 Hebr. voice.
c Joshua 10:10.
11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and 18Shen, and called the name of it 19Eben-ezer,d saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
18 That is, the tooth, and by similitude, a rock, which sticks out sharply like a tooth, as 1 Sam. 14:4, 5.
19 That is, help-stone or stone of help.
d 1 Sam. 4:1.
13¶So the Philistines were subdued, and they 20came 21no more 22into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
20 Hebr. they went on no more to come, namely, 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 same, as may be seen, 1 Sam. 10:5. Or, no more, signifies here in a long time not again. Or, no more, for, not so often, as Gen. 32:28; 2 Kings 6:23, 24.
21 Other, not again.
22 That is, into the land of the Israelites.
14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And 23there was peace between Israel and 24the Amorites.
23 That is, they made no public war against each other.
24 Understand under the name of Amorites also other nations of the land of Canaan or of the Philistines.
15And Samuel 25judged Israel 26all the days of his life.
25 See verse 6.
26 Namely, from that day that he was made a 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.
16And he went from year to year in circuit to 27Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
27 This may be understood of the city Bethel, or of the house of God (for that signifies Bethel) and so should here be understood Kirjath-jearim, where at that time was the ark of the covenant.
17And his 28return was to 29Ramah; for thereewas his house; and 30there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
28 Hebr. and his return was to Ramah. Or, Nevertheless he returned again to Ramah.
29 This city is called, 1 Sam. 1:1, Ramathaim-zophim. See the annotation there.
e 1 Sam. 8:4.
30 That is, he had there his ordinary habitation; when he had gone round about or walked throughout the land, he came there again.