1 Samuel 7

AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came They gladly embrace the motion, as wisely considering, that their great Calamity was not to be charged upon the Ark, but upon themselves and their own carelesness, irreverence, and presumption, in looking into the Ark. This place is elsewhere called Baalah, and Kiriath-Baal, as is evident from Ios. 15. 9, 60. and 18. 14. and 1 Chron. 13. 6, 7. and se... cht up i. e. Caused it to be brought up; to wit, by the Priests appointed to that work, whom they could easily procure, and undoubtedly would do it, especially having been so lately warned of the great danger of violating Gods Commands in those matters. In Scripture-use, men are commonly said to do that which they order, or cause others to do. the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill This place they chose, because it was both a strong place, where it would be most safe; and an High Place, and therefore visible at some distance, and to many persons, which was convenient for them, who were at that time to direct their Prayers and Faces towards the Ark, 1 King. 8. 29, 30, 35. Psal. 28. 2. and 138. 2. Dan. 6. 10. And for the same reason David afterwards placed it in the Hill of Sion. Some Translate the word, in Gibeah. But that was in the Tribe of Benjamin, Ios. 18. 27. Iudg. 19. 14. whereas this Kiriath-jearim was in the Tribe of Iudah, 1 Chron. 13. 6, 7., and sanctified Not that they made him either Levite or Priest, as some would have it; for in Israel persons were not made, but born such; and since the Institution of Levites and Priests, none were made such, that were born of other Tribes, or Families; but that they devoted, or set him apart (as this Verb sometimes signifies) wholly to attend upon this Work. Eleazar his son Him they chose rather than his Father, because he was younger and stronger, and probably freed from Domestick Cares, which might divert him from, or disturb him in this Work; or because he was more eminent for Prudence or Piety., to keep the ark of the LORD To keep the place where it was clean and neat, and to guard it that none might approach or touch it, but such as God required, or allowed to do so..

¶ And it came to pass while the ark abode in Kirjath jearim Where it continued, and was not carried to Shilo its former place, either because that place was destroyed by the Philistines when the Ark was taken, as may be gathered from this History, compared with Ier. 7. 12, 14. and 26. 6, 9. Or because God would hereby punish the wickedness either of that particular place of Shiloh, or of the People of Israel, by keeping it in a private and obscure place, and that near to the Philistines, whither the generality of the People neither durst, nor could safely come., that the time was long: for it was twenty years He says not, That this 20 years was all the time of the Arks abode there, for it continued there from Eli's time, till David's Reign, 2 Sam. 6. 2. which was 40 years, Act. 13. 21. but that it was so long there ere the Israelites were sensible of their Sin and Misery, ere they lamented, &c. as it follows.: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD i. e. They followed after God with Lamentation for his departure, and so long estrangement from them, and with prayers for his return, and favour to them..

¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel To all the Rulers and People too, as he had occasion in his Circuit, described below, v. 16. mixing exhortations to Repentance, with his judicial Administrations., saying, If ye do return unto the LORD If you do indeed what you profess, if you are resolved to go on in that which you seem to have begun. with all your heart Sincerely and in good earnest., then put away the strange gods Out of your houses where some of you keep and Worship them; and out of you hearts and affections, where they still have an Interest in many of you., and Ashtaroth And particularly or especially, Ashtaroth, which... e mentions as a god, whom they together with neighbouring Nations, did more eminently worship. See Iudg. 2. 13. from among you, and prepare your hearts By purging them from all Sin, and particularly from all to other gods. Or, direct, having your hearts from your Idols, turn them to God, and not to ot... Idols or vanities. unto the LORD, and serve him only; and Or, then, upon these conditions you may confidently expect it. he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

And they gathered together to Mizpeh Not that beyond Iordan, of which Iudg. 11. 11.... 9. but another in Canaan, where the Israelites used to, Iudg. 20. 1. 1 Sam. 10. 17., and drew water, and poured it out Which they did either,... guratively, they drew tears out of their Hearts and out of their Eyes as it were Rivers of Water; such des... ptions of penitential Sorrow being not unusual: See Ps... l. 6. 7. and 119. 136. Ier. 9. 1. Lam. 3. 48, 49. Or rather, 2. Properly, because they are said first to draw it, and then to it out. And this agrees well with the State of those times, wherein such Rites, as this were very customary. Now this course they seem to have used, either 1. As a mean or instrument of their Purification. So they washed themselves in this Water, thereby acknowledging their filthiness, and cleansing themselves as the Law prescribed. But this seems not probable; 1. Because here is only mention of drawing and pouring forth this water before the Lord, but not of any washing themselves with it. 2. Because this was not a fit time and place to Purifie themselves in this great and general Assembly. Or, 2. as an External Si... n, whereby they testified and professed, both their own great filthiness and need of washing by the grace and spirit of God, and blood of the Covenant, which are oft signified by water, and their sincere desire to pour out their very hearts before the, in true Repentance, and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. before the LORD i. e. In the publick Assembly, where God is in a special manner present, as has been noted before., and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel i. e. Governed them, reformed all abuses against God or man, took care that the Laws of God should be observed and executed, and willful Transgressors Punished. in Mizpeh.

And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up To wit, with an Army, v. 10. suspecting the Effects of their general Convention, and intending to nip them in the bud. against Israel: and when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid Being a company of unarmed persons, and unfit for Battel. of the Philistines.

And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us We are ashamed and afraid to look God in the face, because of our great wickedness this day remembred and acknowledged: do thou therefore intercede for us, as Moses did for his Generation. that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

¶ And Samuel took a sucking lamb Which it might be, though it was more than Eight days old, and so that Law, Exod. 23. 19. was not violated., and offered it Either himself by Divine Instinct, which was a sufficient Warrant; or rather by a Priest, as Saul is afterwards said to have offered, 1 Sam. 13. 9. for a burnt-offering wholly Burning all the parts of, according to the Law of the Burnt-offerings whereas in other Offerings some parts were reserved. unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him As appears by the Effects, the following Thunder, and the overthrow of the Philistines Host..

And as Samuel was offering up the burntoffering, the Philistines drew near to battel against Israel: but the LORD thundred with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten Either by the Lightnings, or Thunderbolts, or other things which accompanied the cracks of Thunder: or by the Israelites, who perceiving them to be affrighted and flee away, pursued, and smote them, as the next Verse mentions. before... rael.

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them Qu. Whence had they Weapons wherewith to smite them? Answ. Divers of them probably brought them to the Assembly, others borrowed them at Mizpeh, or the neighbouring places: and the rest might be the Arms of the Philistines, which they threw away to hasten their flight, as is usual in such cases., until they came under Beth-car.

Then Samuel took a stone A rude unpolished Stone, which was not prohibited by that Law, Levit. 26. 1. there being no danger of Worshipping such a Stone, and this being set up only as a Monument of the Victory., and set it between Mizpeh, and Shen, and called the name thereof Eben-ezer By which, compared with Chap. 4. 1. it appears, that this Victory was gained in, or... ear the very same place where the Israelites received their former fatal loss., saying, Hitherto has the LORD helped us He has begun to help us in some measure, though not compleatly to deliver us. By which wary expression, he exciteth both their thankfulness for their mercy received, and their holy fear and care to please and serve the Lord, that he might proceed to help and deliver them more effectually..

¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel i. e. They came not with a great Host, as now they did, but only molested them with stragling Parties, or Garisons; as 1 Sam. 10. 5. and they came not, to wit, all the days of Samuel, as it follows, i. e. while Samuel was their... ole Judge, or Ruler; for in Saul's time they did come, 1 Sam. 13. 5, 17. and 14. 52. and 17. 1. &c.: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel By the Philistines, who, it seems, were frighted into this Restitution by their dread of Samuel, and of the Divine Vengeance. Object. The Philistines had Cities and Garisons in Israel's Land after this time; as 1 Sam. 10. 5. and 1........ Answ. Either therefore those places were not any of here mentioned; for it is not said, That all their Cities were restored, but only indefinitely, the cities, and those limited to a certain compass, from Ekron to Gath; or some of the Cities now restored by the Philistines, were afterwards retaken by them., from Ekron even unto Gath, and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines: and there was peace An agreement for the Cessation of all acts of Hostility. between Israel and the Amorites i. e. The Canaanites, oft called Amorites, because these were forme... ly the most Valiant and Terrible of all those Nations, and the first Enemies which the Israelites met with, when they went to take Possession of their Land. They made this Peace with the Canaanites, that they might be more at leasure to oppose the Philistines, now their most Potent Enemies..

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life For though Saul was King in Samuel's last days, yet Samuel did not then quite cease to be a Judge, being so made by Gods extraordinary Call, which Saul could not destroy; And therefore Samuel did sometimes, upon great occasions, though not ordinarily, exercise the office of a Judge after the beginning of Saul's Reign; as Chap. 11. 7. and 15. 32, 33. And the years of the Rule of Saul and Samuel are joyned together, Act. 13. 20, 21. Qu. How does the Office of a Judge agree with Hannahs Vow, whereby she devoted him to a perpetual attendance upon the Lords Service? Answ. This was not inconsistent with her Vow, which consisted of two Branches, the one more general, that he should be given, or lent to the Lord all his days, 1 Sam. 1. 11, 28. which she faithfully executed, leaving him wholly to the service and disposal of the LORD, who thought fit to employ him in this way; and, if any thing therein was contrary to that Vow, could undoubtedly dispense with it, as being his own... ght only; the other more particular, that no Raser should come upon his head; nor does it appear that this part was violated; or if it was, it was done by Divine Dispensation..

And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel Either a place known by that name: or the house of God; to wit, Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark was., and Gilgal In the Eastern Border., and Mizpeh Towards the West., and judged Israel in all those places He went to those several places, partly in compliance with the people, whose convenience and benefit he was willing to purchase with his own trouble, making himself an itinerant Judge and Preacher for their sakes; and partly, that by his presence in several parts, he might the better observe, and rectifie all sorts of miscarriages against God or Men..

And his return was to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the LORD That by joyning Sacrifices with his Prayers, he might the better obtain direction and assistance from God upon all emergencies. Object. It was unlawful to build another Altar for Sacrifice besides that before the Tabernacle, Deut. 12. 5, 13. Answ. This was in part excused by the confusion of those times, wherein the Tabernacle and its Altar were Destroyed; as is most probable; but most fully, because this was done by Prophetical Inspiration, and Divine Dispensation, as appears by Gods approbation and acceptance of the Sacrifices offered upon it..