1 And the men H582 of Kirjathjearim H7157 came, H935 and fetched up H5927 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and brought H935 it into the house H1004 of Abinadab H41 in the hill, H1389 and sanctified H6942 Eleazar H499 his son H1121 to keep H8104 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068
2 And it came to pass, while H3117 the ark H727 abode H3427 in Kirjathjearim, H7157 that the time H3117 was long; H7235 for it was twenty H6242 years: H8141 and all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 lamented H5091 after H310 the LORD. H3068
3 And Samuel H8050 spake H559 unto all the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 If ye do return H7725 unto the LORD H3068 with all your hearts, H3824 then put away H5493 the strange H5236 gods H430 and Ashtaroth H6252 from among H8432 you, and prepare H3559 your hearts H3824 unto the LORD, H3068 and serve H5647 him only: and he will deliver H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines. H6430
4 Then the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did put away H5493 Baalim H1168 and Ashtaroth, H6252 and served H5647 the LORD H3068 only.
5 And Samuel H8050 said, H559 Gather H6908 all Israel H3478 to Mizpeh, H4708 and I will pray H6419 for you unto the LORD. H3068
6 And they gathered together H6908 to Mizpeh, H4709 and drew H7579 water, H4325 and poured it out H8210 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and fasted H6684 on that day, H3117 and said H559 there, We have sinned H2398 against the LORD. H3068 And Samuel H8050 judged H8199 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in Mizpeh. H4708
7 And when the Philistines H6430 heard H8085 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gathered together H6908 to Mizpeh, H4708 the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 went up H5927 against Israel. H3478 And when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 it, they were afraid H3372 of H6440 the Philistines. H6430
8 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 to Samuel, H8050 Cease H2790 not to cry H2199 unto the LORD H3068 our God H430 for us, that he will save H3467 us out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines. H6430
9 And Samuel H8050 took H3947 a H259 sucking H2461 lamb, H2924 and offered H5927 it for a burnt offering H5930 wholly H3632 unto the LORD: H3068 and Samuel H8050 cried H2199 unto the LORD H3068 for Israel; H3478 and the LORD H3068 heard H6030 him.
10 And as Samuel H8050 was offering up H5927 the burnt offering, H5930 the Philistines H6430 drew near H5066 to battle H4421 against Israel: H3478 but the LORD H3068 thundered H7481 with a great H1419 thunder H6963 on that day H3117 upon the Philistines, H6430 and discomfited H2000 them; and they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel. H3478
11 And the men H582 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 of Mizpeh, H4709 and pursued H7291 the Philistines, H6430 and smote H5221 them, until they came under Bethcar. H1033
12 Then Samuel H8050 took H3947 a H259 stone, H68 and set H7760 it between Mizpeh H4709 and Shen, H8129 and called H7121 the name H8034 of it Ebenezer, H72 saying, H559 Hitherto hath the LORD H3068 helped H5826 us.
13 So the Philistines H6430 were subdued, H3665 and they came H935 no more H3254 into the coast H1366 of Israel: H3478 and the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was against the Philistines H6430 all the days H3117 of Samuel. H8050
14 And the cities H5892 which the Philistines H6430 had taken H3947 from Israel H3478 were restored H7725 to Israel, H3478 from Ekron H6138 even unto Gath; H1661 and the coasts H1366 thereof did Israel H3478 deliver H5337 out of the hands H3027 of the Philistines. H6430 And there was peace H7965 between Israel H3478 and the Amorites. H567
15 And Samuel H8050 judged H8199 Israel H3478 all the days H3117 of his life. H2416
16 And he went H1980 from H1767 year H8141 to year H8141 in circuit H5437 to Bethel, H1008 and Gilgal, H1537 and Mizpeh, H4709 and judged H8199 Israel H3478 in all those places. H4725
17 And his return H8666 was to Ramah; H7414 for there was his house; H1004 and there he judged H8199 Israel; H3478 and there he built H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 7
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
1Sa 7:1, 2. The Ark at Kirjath-jearim.
1. the men of Kirjath-jearim—"the city of woods," also Kirjath-baal (Jos 15:60; 18:14; 1Ch 13:5, 6). It was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh and stood on a hill. This was the reason of the message (1Sa 6:21), and why this was chosen for the convenience of people turning their faces to the ark (1Ki 8:29-35; Ps 28:2; Da 6:10).
brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill—Why it was not transported at once to Shiloh where the tabernacle and sacred vessels were remaining, is difficult to conjecture.
sanctified … his son—He was not a Levite, and was therefore only set apart or appointed to be keeper of the place.
2. the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim … twenty years—It appears, in the subsequent history, that a much longer period elapsed before its final removal from Kirjath-jearim (2Sa 6:1-19; 1Ch 13:1-14). But that length of time had passed when the Israelites began to revive from their sad state of religious decline. The capture of the ark had produced a general indifference either as to its loss or its recovery.
all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord—They were then brought, doubtless by the influence of Samuel's exhortations, to renounce idolatry, and to return to the national worship of the true God.
1Sa 7:3-6. The Israelites, through Samuel's Influence, Solemnly Repent at Mizpeh.
3-6. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel—A great national reformation was effected through the influence of Samuel. Disgusted with their foreign servitude, and panting for the restoration of liberty and independence, they were open to salutary impressions; and convinced of their errors, they renounced idolatry. The re-establishment of the faith of their fathers was inaugurated at a great public meeting, held at Mizpeh in Judah, and hallowed by the observance of impressive religious solemnities. The drawing water, and pouring it out before the Lord, seems to have been a symbolical act by which, in the people's name, Samuel testified their sense of national corruption, their need of that moral purification of which water is the emblem, and their sincere desire to pour out their hearts in repentance before God.
6. Samuel judged … Israel in Mizpeh—At the time of Eli's death he could not have much exceeded twenty years of age; and although his character and position must have given him great influence, it does not appear that hitherto he had done more than prophets were wont to do. Now he entered on the duties of a civil magistrate.
1Sa 7:7-14. While Samuel Prays, the Philistines Are Discomfited.
7-11. when the Philistines heard, &c.—The character and importance of the national convention at Mizpeh were fully appreciated by the Philistines. They discerned in it the rising spirit of religious patriotism among the Israelites that was prepared to throw off the yoke of their domination. Anxious to crush it at the first, they made a sudden incursion while the Israelites were in the midst of their solemn celebration. Unprepared for resistance, they besought Samuel to supplicate the divine interposition to save them from their enemies. The prophet's prayers and sacrifice were answered by such a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning that the assailants, panic-struck, were disordered and fled. The Israelites, recognizing the hand of God, rushed courageously on the foe they had so much dreaded and committed such immense havoc, that the Philistines did not for long recover from this disastrous blow. This brilliant victory secured peace and independence to Israel for twenty years, as well as the restitution of the usurped territory.
12. Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen—on an open spot between the town and "the crag" (some well-known rock in the neighborhood). A huge stone pillar was erected as a monument of their victory (Le 26:1). The name—Eben-ezer—is thought to have been written on the face of it.