1st Samuel Chapter 7
From The Open Bible Project
7:1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.
- (a) A city in the tribe of Judah, called also Kirjathbaal, in (Joshua 15:60).
7:2 It happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
- (b) Lamented for their sins, and followed the Lord.
7:3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
7:5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh."
- (c) For Shiloh was now desolate, because the Philistines had taken the ark from it.
7:6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
- (d) The Chaldee text says that they drew water out of their heart: that is, wept abundantly for their sins.
7:7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
- (e) Signifying that in the prayers of the godly, there should be a vehement zeal.
7:9 Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him.
7:10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
- (f) According to the prophecy of Hannah Samuel’s mother, (1 Samuel 2:10).
7:11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.
7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name [7] Ebenezer, [See 1st Samuel Footnotes 7] saying, "Yahweh helped us until now."
- (g) Which was a great rock over against Mizpeh.
7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and its border did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
- (h) Meaning, the Philistines.
7:15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.
7:17 His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.
- (i) Which was not contrary to the Law: for as yet a certain place was not appointed.
