Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Hannah's Prayer and Thanks. 1 SAMUEL II. Samud'a Ministry.
seven i. e., many children. G. he brlngeth down to the grave, and bringethniJ i. e., he reduces to the lowest state of degradation and misery, and restores to prosthe two pi'iests who administered them was notoriouslybad. But doubtless he believed, and acted on the belief, that the ordinances were " efl'ectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or In those who administered them, but from the grace of God being communicated through them." 4. when Elltanah offered, Ue gave to Peufiiitali, &c. ... iiortloiis—The perity and happiness. 8. inherit the throne of glory i. e-., possesses seat.s of honour, he ralsethup the poor out of the dust, and llfteth the beggar fi'om the dunghill —The dunghill, a pile of horse, cow, or camel olial, hi aped up to dry in the sun, and serve as fuel, was, and is, one of the common haunts of the poorest mendicants ; and the change that had been made in the social position of Hannah, appeared to her grateful heart as auspicious and as great as the elevation of a poor despised beggar to the highest and most dignified rank. 10. the Lord shall judge the ends of tlie earth . . . exalt the horn of his anointed—Tills is the first place in Scripture where the word "anointed," or Messiah, occurs; and as there waa no king in Israel at the time, it seems the best interpretation to refer it to Christ. There is, indeed, a remarkable resemblance between the song of Hannah and that of Mary. (Luke 1. 46.) 11. the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest—He must have been engaged in some occupation suited to his tender age, as in playing upon the cj'mbals, or other instruments of music; in lighting the lamps, or similar easy and interesting services.
oflferer received back the greater part of the peace offerings, which Ue and his family or friends were accustomed to eat at a social feast before the Lord. (See on Leviticus 3. 7 ; Deuteronomy 12. 12.) It was out of these consecrated viands Elkanahgave portions to all '.'1 ? members of his family; but " unto Hannah he gave a ^ iTthy portion;" i.e., a larger choice, according to .. ) Eastern fashion of showing regard to beloved or ijguished guests. (See on ch. 9. 23, 24; also Genesis 43, vJ.) 6. her adversary provoked lier sore—The conduct C:"?eninnah was most unbecoming. But domestic broils in the houses of polygamisls are of frequent occurrence, and the most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of the husband's superior affection, as in this case of Hannah.
9-18. Hannah's Prayer. 9-11. she prayed, and vowed a vow—Here is a specimen of the intense desire that reigned in the bosoms of the Hebrew women for children. This was the burden of Hannah's prayer; and the strong preference she expressed foramalechild yiginated in her purpose of dedicating him to the tabernacle service. The circumstance of his birth bound him to this; but his residence within the precincts of the sanctuary would have to commence at an earlier age than usual, in consequence of the Nazarite vow. 13-18. Ell marked her mouth—The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder. This mistaken impression was immediately removed, and, in the words, "God grant," or rather, "will grant," was followed by an invocation wliich, as Hannah regarded
12-17. The Sin of Eli's Sons. 13. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial—Not only careless and irreligions, but men loose in their actions, and vicious and scandalous in their habits. Though professionally engaged in sacred duties, they were not only strangers to the power of religion in the heart, but they had thrown ofl' its restraints, and even ran, as is often done in similar cases by the sons of eminent ministers, to the opposite extreme of reckless and open profligacy. 13. the priest's custom with the people—When persons wished to present a sacrifice of peace-offering on the altar, the ollering was brouglit in the first instance to the priest, and as the Lord's part was burnt, the parts appropriated respectively to the priests and otferers were to be sodden. But Eli's sons, unsatisfied witli the breast and shoulder, which were the perquisites appointed to them by the Divine law (Exodus 29.27; Leviticus 7. 31,32), not only claimed part of the oflerer's share, but rapaciously seized them previous to the sacred ceremony of heaving or waving ^seo on Leviticus 7. 34); and moreover committed the additional injustice of ta.'kingup with their fork those portions which they preferred, whilst raw, in order to their being roasted. Pious people were revolted by such rapacious and profane encroachments on the dues of the altar, as well as what should have gone to constitute tlx; family and social feast of tiie oflerer. The truth is, the priests having become haughty, and unwilling in many instances it in the light of a prophecy pointing to tlie accomplishment of her earnest desire, dispelled her sadness, and filled her with confident hope. The character and services of the expected child were sutticiently important to make his birtli a tit subject for prophecy.
20. Samuel, Bokn. SO. called his name Samuel Doubtless with her husband's consent. The names of children were given sometimes by the fathers, and sometimes by the mothers (see on Genesis 4.1,26; 5.29; 19.37;
21. 3) ; and among the early Hebi-cws, were commonly compound names, one part including the name of God.
iil. the r<inii Elkanah . . . went up to offer . . . htsvow—Tlie solemn expression of his concurrence in Hannah's vow was necessary to make it obligatory. (See on Numbers 30.) !JiJ. But Ilauiiah went not up—Men only were obliged to attend the solemn feasts. (Exodus 23. 17.) But Hannah, like other pious women, was in the habit of going, only she deemed it more prudent and becoming to defer her next journey till her son's age would enable her to fulfil her vow. 34:. three bullocks—jSepi., renders it "a bullock of three years old; " which is, probably, the true rendering.
to accept Invitations to those feasts, presents of meat were sent to them; and this, though done In courtesy at first, being. In course of time, established into a right, gave rise to all the rapacious keenness of Eli's sons.
18-20. Samuel's Ministry. 18. But Samuel ministered before the Loixl, being a child-This notice of ills early services in the outer courts of tho tabernacle, wtia made to pave the way for the remarkable propliecy regarding the high priest's fahiily. girded with a linen ephod—A small shoulder-garment or apron, used in llie sacred .service by the inferior priests and lAWites; sometimes also by Judges or eminent persons, and hence allowed to Samuel, who, though not a Levite, was devoled to God from his birth. 19. his mother made hiiii « little coat, and brought It to l>liu from year to year— .\ ware that he could not yet render any useful service to the tabernacle, slio undertook the expense of supplying him with wearing apparel. All weaving stull's, manulaclure of cloth, and maklngof suits were anciently tlie eiiiploym(>nt of women. 30. Ell bles Hcd Elkanah and IiIh wife —This blessing, like that whiili ho had formerly pronounced, hail a inopliellc virlu(>; which, ere long, nppeareil In the Incieiuse of llamiali's family {v. 21), and (ho growing qualifications of Sanuiel for the service of the sanctuary. 33. tho women that aHsembled at the door of the tabernacle—Thl6 was an institution of holy womt u
Chapter ii.
Ver. 1-11. Hannah's SoNo in Thankfulness to God.
1. Hannah prayed, and said—Praise and prayer are Inseparably conjoined in Scripture. (C'olossians 4. 2; 1 Timothy 2. 1.) Tills beautiful song was her trilnito of thanks for the Divine goodness In answering her petition, mine horn Is exalted In the Lord—Allusion Is lu're made (o a peculiarity in tiio dress of Eastern I'emiiles aliout Lebanon, which seems to have obtained anciently among the Israelite women, that of wearing a tin or silver horn, on the forehead, on which tlieir veil Is suspended. Wives, who have no clilldren, wear it projecting In an ol)lique direction, wlille those who becoine mothers lordiwith raise It a few inclies higher, inclining towards I lie i>crpendhailar, and by tills sllglit but ol>servable cliange In their head-dress, make known, wheriivcr ( hey go, I he maternal chariicter which tliey now bear. 5. they that were famngry cea Mcd i.e., to hunger, the barren hath biiiu
The Lord Appears to Samuel. , 1 SAMUEL III, IV. Israel Overcome hy the PhilUlines.
of a strictly ascetic order, who had relinquished worldlygive a reverential attention to the message. The burden of it was an extraordinary premonition of the judgment* that impended over Eli's house; and the aged priest, having drawn the painful secret from the simple cliild, exclaimed, "It is tlie Lord; let him do wliat seenieth to him good." Such is the spirit of meek and Unmui ii»uring submission in wliich we ouglit to receive tlie dispensations of God, however severe and afflictive. But, in order to form a right estimate of Eli's language and conduct on this occasion, we must consider the overwtielming accumulation of judgments denoun(;ed against his person, his sons, his descendants—his aJtar, and nation. With such a threatening prospect before liim, his piety and meekness wei'e wonderful. In his personal character he seems to have been a good man, but his relative s conduct was flagrantly bad; and though his misfortunes claim our sympathy, it is impossible to approve or defend the weak and unfaithful course which, in the retributive cares and devoted themselves to the Lord ; an institution which continued dowu to the time of Christ (Luke 2.37).
Uli was, on the whole, a good man, but unhappy in the moral and religious training of his family. He erred on the side of parental indulgence, and though he reprimanded them (see on Deuteronomy 21. 18-21), yet, from fear or indolence, shrunk from laying on them the re-
Btraints, or subjecting them to the disciidine their gross delinquencies calledfor. lu his judicial capacity, he winked at their flagrant acts of mal-administration, and sullered them to make reckless encroachments on the constitution, by which the most serious injuries were inflicted botli on the rights of the people and the laws of
Goil. !J.5. lUey lifivrkciied not unto tlie voice of tlieir fatiier, because (it should be therefore) tlie Lord wovild slay them—It was not God's preordination, but their own wilful and impenitent disobedience which was the cause of their destruction.
justice of God, brought these adversities upon him,
27-85. A Tkoi'iiecy against Eli's House. !?7. tliere came a man of God unto Eli, saying . . . there shall not be an old man in thine house—So mucli importance has always, in the Kast, been attached to old age, that it would be felt to be a great calamity, and sensibly lower the respectability of any family wliich could boast of few or no old men. The prediction of this prophet was fully confirmed by the afflictions, degradation, poverty, and many untimely deaths with which tlie house of Eli was visited after its announcement (see on ch. 4. 11; 14.3; 22.
CHAPTER IV.
"Ver. I-U. Israel Overcome by the Philistines. 1. the word of Samuel came to all Israel—The character of Samuel as a prophet was now fully established. The wantof an "open vision" was supplied byhim.for "none of his words were let fall to the ground " (ch. 3. 19) ; and to his residence in Shiloh all the people of Israel repaired to consult him as an oracle, who, as the medium of receiving the Divine command, or by his gift of a prophet, could Inform them what was the mind of God. It is not improbable that the rising influence of the young prophet had alarmed the jealous fears of the Philistines, who, having kept the Israelites in some degree of subjection ever since the death of Samson, were determined, by farther crushing, to prevent the possibility of their beii.g trained by the counsels, and under the leadership of Samuel, to reassert their national independence. At all events, the Philistines were the aggressors (v. 2). But, on the other hand, the Israelites were rash and inconsiderate In rushing to the field without obtaining the sanction of Samuel as to the war, or having consulted him as to.the subsequent measures they took. Israel went out ntniiist the Philistines to battle i. e., to resist this new incursion. — Aphek . . . Eben-ezer—Aphek, which means " strength," is a name applied to any fort or fastness. There were several Apheks in Palestine ; but the mentionof Eben-ezer determines this " Apliek " to be in the south, among the mountains of Judah, near the western entrance of the pass of Beth-horon, and consequently on the borders of the Philistine territory. The first encounter at Aphek being unsuccessful, the Israelites determined to renew the engagement in better circumstances. 3-9; Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Loril out of Shiloh unto ns—Strange that they were so blind to the real cause of the disaster, and that they did not discern, in the great and general corruption of religion and morals (ch. 2. and 7. 3 ; Psalm 78.58), the reason why the presence and aid of God were not extended to them. Their
18-'23; 1 Kings 2.27). 31. I will cut olT thine arm, and the arm of thy fatlier's house—By the withdrawal of the high priesthood from Eleazar, the elder of Aaron's two sons, after Nadab and Abihu were destroyed, that dignity had been conferred on the family of Ithamar, to which Eli belonged, and naw that his descendants had forfeited the honour, it was to be taken from them and restored to the elder branch. 33. tliou shalt see an enemy In my habitation—A successful rival for the office of high priest shall rise out of another family (2 Samuel 15. 35; 1 Chronicles 24. 3; 29. 22). But the marginal reading, "thou shalt see the affliction of tlie tabernacle," seems to be a preferable translation.
CHAPTER III.
Ver. 1-10. The Lord Appears to Samuel in a Vision.
t. the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eat—His ministry consisted, of course, of such duties in or about tlie sanctuary as were suited to his age, which is supposed now to have been about twelve years. Whether the ol Qce had been specially assigned him, or it arose from (he Interest Inspired by the story of his birth, Eli kept him as his immediate attendant; and he resided not in the sanctuary, but in one of the tents or apartments around It, assigned for the accommodation of the priests and Levltes, his being near to that of the high priest's, the %vord of the Lord was precious in tliose days—it was very rarely known to the Israelites ; and in point of fact only two prophets are mentioned as having appeared during the whole administration of the Judges (Judges first measure for restoring the national spirit and energy ought to have been a complete reformation—a universal return to purity of worship and manners. But, instead of cherishing a spirit of deep humiliation and sincere repentance—instead of resolving on the abolition of existing abuses, and the re-establishing of tTie pure faith, they adopted what appeared an easier and speedier course they put their trust In ceremonial observances, and doubted not but that the introduction of the ark into th»
4.4; 6.8). there was no open vision — no publicly recognized prophet whom the people could consult, and from wliom they might learn the will of God. There must have been certain indubitable evidences by which a communication from heaven could be distinguished. Eli knew them, for he may have received' them, though not so frequently as is implied in the klea of an "open vision." 3. ere tike lamp of God went out In the temple of the Lord—The "temple" seems to have become the established designation of the tabernacle, and the time indlrated was towards tlie morning twilight, as the lamps were extinguished at sunrise 'see on Levltli us ff. 12, 13). 5. he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I, for tlion calledst me—It is evident that his sleeping chamber was close to that of the aged high priest, and that he was accustomed to be called during the night. The three successive calls addreaseil to the boy convinced Ell of the Divine character of llie speaker, and he therefore exhorted the child to battle-field would ensure their victory. In recommending this extraordinary stop, the elders might recollect the confidence it imparted to their ancestors (Numbers 10. ;?5;
14. 44), as well as what had been done at Jericho. But it is more probable that they were influenced by the heatlien Ish Ideas of their Idolatrous neighbours, who carried tlieir Idol Dagon, or his sacred symbols, to their wars, believing that the power of their divinities was inseparjvbly associated with, or residing in, their images. In sliort, the shout raised in the Hebrew camp, on the arrival of th«
The Death of Eli. 1 SAMUEL V, VI. The rhilislincs Said Haclc iht Aih.
ark, inilioated very plainly the prevalpnee amongst the Israelites at this time, of a belief in national deities whose influence was local, and whose interest was especially exerted in behalf of the people who adored tliein. The joy of the Israelites was an emotion springin;; out of ing piles, hiemorrhoids (Psalm 78. Gfi), in a very aggras'ated form. As the heathens generally regarded diseases a i*ei tiiig the secret parts of the body as punishments from the gods for trespasses committed against themselves, llie Ashdodites would be the more ready to look upon the prevailing epidemic as denionsti aling the anger of Gott, already siiown against their idol. 7. the ai-k of C.oU shall' not abide with us—It was removed successivelj" to several of the large towns of the country, but 1 he .same pestilence broke out In every place, and raged so fiercely and fatally that the authorities were forced to send tlie ark back into tlie laud of Israel. 11. they sent— t. f., the magistrates of Ekron. 13. the cry of the city went up to heaven—The disease is attended witii acute pain, and the same superstitious sentiments as the corresponding •lismay of tlieir enemies ; and to afford them a couvincinf;, tlioiigh painful proof of their error, was the ulterior object of the discipline to which they were now subjected—a discipline by which God, while punishing them for their apostasy by allowing the capture of the ark, had another end in view—that of signally vindicating Kis snpremacy over all the gods of the nations.
12-22. Kli Hearing the Tidings. 13. Ell sat wpoii a seat by tlie way-side—The aged priest, as a public magistrate, used, in dispensing justice, to seat himself it is far Irom being a rare phenomenon in the Philistiau plain. [Van he Velde.]
daily in a spacious recess at the entrance gate of the city
CHAPTER VI.
and in his intense anxiety to learn the issue of the battle, lie took up his usual place as the most convenient for meeting with passers-by. His seat was an ot Kcial chair, Bimilar to those of the ancient Egyptian judges, richly carved, superbly ornamented, higli, and without a back. The calamities announced to Samuel as about to fall upon the family of Eli were now inflicted in the death of his two sons, and after his death, by that of his daughter-inlaw, whose infant son received a name that perpetuated the fallen glory of the church and nation. The public disaster was completed by the capture of the ark. Poor Eli ! he was a good man, in spite of his unhappy weaknesses. So strongly were his sensibilities enlisted on the Bide of religion, that the news of the capture of tlie ark proved to him a knell of death; and yet his over-indulgence, or sad neglect of his family—the main cause of all the evils that led to its fall, has been recorded, as a beacon to warn all heads of Christian families against making shipwreck on the same rock.
Ver. 1-9. The Philistines Counsel how to-Senb Bai k THE Ark. 1. tiie arU was in tike country of the Philistines seven mouths—Notwithstanding the calamitiis which its presence had brought on the country and the people, the Philistine lords were unwilling to relinquish such a prize, and tried every means to retain it with peace and safety, but in vain. -Z. Tlie Philistines called for the priests and the til viners—The designed restoration of the ark was not, it seems, universally approved of, and many doubts were expressed whether the prevailing pi'Stilence was really a judgment of Heaven. The priests and diviners united all parlies by recommending acour.se which would enable them easily to discriminate the true character of the calamities, and at the same time to propitiate the incensed Deity for any acts of disrespect which might have been shown to His ark. tive joldeu ciiurods— Votive or thank otleriugs were commonly made by the heathen in player for, or gratitude after, deliverance from lingering or dangerous disorders, lu the form of metallic (generally silver) models or images of tlie diseased parts of the body. This is common still in Koman Catholic countries, as well as in the temples of the Hindoos and other modern heathen. Hve goldeu niiUe—This animal is suppo.sed by some to be the jerboa or jumpiiig-mouse of Syria and Kgypt [BochartJ; by others, to be the short-tailed field-mouse, which often swarms in prodigious numbers, and commits great ravages in the cultivated fields of Palestine. 5. give glory to tSie God of Israel—By these propitiatory presents, the Philistines would acknowledge His power, and make reparation for the injury ilone to His ;uk. lighten his hand . . . from olf your gods—Klohini for god. «. Wikercfore then do j e hnixlen your hearts, as the Egyptians ivti'i Pharaoh hardened theirs—The memory of the ajipalling judgments that had been in Uicted on Kgypt was not yet obliterated. Whether preserved in written records, or in floating tradition, they were still fresh in the minds of men, and being extensively spread, were doubtless the meansof dillusing the knowledge and fear of the true God. 7. maite a new cart—Their object in making a new one for the purpose seems to have been not only for cleanliness anil neatness, but from an Impression tliat there would have been an impropriety in using one that had been apjilied to meaner or more common services. It appears to have been a covered wagon (see on 1! Samuel 6. 3). two milch klue—Such untrained heifers, wanton and vaj^^'anl, would pursue no certain and regular path, like those accustomed to the yoke, and therefore were most unlikely of their own spontaneoua motion to prosecute the direct road to the land of Israel, bring their calves home front them—The strong natural affection of the dams might be supposed to stimulate their return homewards, rather than direct their steps In a foreign country. fS. take the ark of the IjOrd, and Iny it upon (he cart—This mode of carrying the saered symbol was forbidden; but the innoranee of Hie Philistines made the indignity be overloolced (see on 2 Samuel (i. C). put (lie Jewels ... in a collVr by the side thereof—The way of securing treasure In the Kast Is still In u jliesl,
CHAPTEK, V.
Ver. 1, 2. The Philistines Bring the Ark into the House of Dagon. 1. Aslidod—Or Azotus, one of the Ave Philistine satrapies, and a place of great strength. It was an inland town, thirty-four miles north of Ga/.a, now called Esdud. H, tlie liouse of Dagou—Stately terajiles were erected in honour of tills idol, who was the principal deity of the Pliilistiues, but whose worship extended over all Syria, as well as Mesopotamia and Chaldea ; his name being found among the Assyrian gods on tlie cuneiform inscriptions. [Rawlinson.] Ho was rci)resented under a monstrous combination of a human head, breast, and arms, joined to the belly and tail of a tish. 'J'he captured ark was placed in the temple of Dagon, right before this image of the idol.
3-5. Dagon Falls Doavn. 3. tUej' of Aslidod airose cnrly—They were filled with consternation wlien they found the oliject of their stupid veneration prostrate before the symbol of the Divine presence; thougli set up.
It fell again, and lay in a state of complete mutilation; his head and arms, severed from the trunk, were lying in distant and separate places, as if violently cast oft", and only tlio fishy j art remained. The degradation of their Idol, though concealed by the priests on the former occasion, was now more manifest and Infamous. He lay in the attitude of a \ anquished enemy and a suppliant, and this picture of huifliliation signillcantly declared the superiority of the God of Israel. 5. TUerefore neither tlic prie Mls . . . nojany . . . tread on tl»e thre Hliold of Dagon—A superstitious ceremony crept in, and in the providence of (*od was continued, liy whicli tlie Philistines contributed to publish this proof of the heljilessness of their god. nnto this day—The usage continued in practice at the time when this history was wrltt(^n—probably In the later years of Samuel's life.
0-12, TiiK I'ni LisTiNiis are Smitten with Kmerods, C, (lie liaud of the Tiord was heavy upon tliein of Aslidod—The presumption of the AHhdodiles was punished by a severe Judgment that overtook them In the form of a pestilence, smote tlu;m with cm< roilsI!l<>ed178
The Ark al Kirjathrjearim. 1 SAMUEL VII, VIII. The Israelites ask for a King.
to its loss or its recovery, all the house of Israel lamented after the tiord—They were then brought, doubtchained lo the house wall or some solid part of the furniture. 9. Bclli-shemesU i. e., "house of tlie sun," now Ain Shems [Hobinsok], a city of priests in Judah, in the south-east border of Dan, lying in a beautiful and extensive valley. Josephns says they were set a-going near a place where tlie road divided into two—tlie one leading less b,y the influence of Samuel's exhortations, to renounce idolatry, and return to the national worship of the true God.
3-fi. The Israelites, by Samuel's Mkans, Solemnly Repent at Mizpeh. 3-G. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel—A great national relormation was effected tlirough the influence of Samuel. Disgusted with their foreign servitude, and panting for the restoration of liberty and independence, tliey were open to salutary impressions; and convinced of their errors, they renounced idolatry, and the re-estalilisliment of tlie faith of tlieir fathers was inaugurated at a great public meeting, held at Mizpeh in Judah, and hallowed by tlie observance of impressive religious solentinities. Tlie " drawing water, and pouring it out before the Lord," seems to have been a s,vmbolical act by which, in the people's name, Samuel baoT:: to Ekron, where were their calves, and the otlier to Beth-sheruesh. Their frequent lowings attested tlieir ardent longing for their young, and at the same time the supernatural influence that controlled their movements in a contrary direction, the lords of tlic Pluilistines went after tliem—to give their tribute of homage, to prevent imposture, and to obtain the most reliable evidence of the truth. The result of this journej"- tended to their own deeper humiliation, and the greater illustration of God's glory. 14. they clave i.e., the Betli-shem-
Ites, in an irrepressible outburst of joy. offered, tlte kine —Though contrary to the requirements of tlie law (Leviticus 1.3; 22. 19), these animals might properly be offered, as consecrated by God himself; and though not beside testified their sense of national corruption, their need of that moral purification of wliich water is tlie emblem, and their sincere desire to pour out their hearts in repentance before God. Samuel Judged Israel in lHiipeh—At the time of Eli's death lie coujd not have much exceeded twenty years of age ; and although his character and position must h.'ive given him great influence, it does not appear that liitherto he had done more than prophets were wont to do. Now he entered on the duties of a civil magistrate.
tlie tabernacle, tliere were many instances of sacrifices offered by prophets and holy men on extraordinary occasions in otlier places. 17. tliese are tlie go Wen emerods. . . and the mice—There were five representative images of tlie emerods, corresponding to the five principal cities of the Philistines. But the number of the golden mice must have been greater, for they were sent from tlie walled towns as well as the country villages. 18. on the great stone of Abel Abel or Aben means "stone," so
7-14. While Samuel Pbays, the Philistines are Discomfited. 7-11. when the Philistines heard, &c.—The character and importance of tlie national conven'ioii at Mizpeh were fully appreciated by tlie Philistines. They discerned in it the rising spirit of religious patriotism among the Israelites that was prepared to throw oil the yoke of their domination ; and anxious to crush it at the tlial without resorting to italics, the reading should be, "the great stone." 19. he smote the men of Bethshemesh, hecanse they had looked into the ark—In the ecstasy of delight at seeing the return of the ark, the Bi th-shemesh reapers pried into it beneath the wagon cover; and instead of covering it up again, as a sacred utensil, tliey let it remain exposed to common inspection, wishing it to be seen, in order that all might enjoy first, they made a sudden incursion while the Israelites were in tlie midst of their solemn celebr.ation. LTnprepared for resistance, they besought Samuel to su))pliciite 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, wei'e disordered and fled. The Israelites, recognizing the hand of God, rushed courageously on the foe they had so much dreaded, and committed sucli 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. VZ. Samuel took a stone and set It between Mizpeh and Shen—on an ojien spot between the town and "the crag" (some well-known rock in tiie neiglibourhood). A huge stone pillar was erected as a monument of their victory (Leviticus 2fi. 1). The name—Eben-ezer tlie triumph of seeing the votive offerings presented to it, and gratify curiosity with the sight of the sacred shrine. Tills was the offence of those Israelites (Levites, as well as common people), who had treated the ark with less reverence than the Philistines tliemselves. he smote of the people ftfty thousand and threescore and ten men —Beth-shemesh being only a village, this translation must be erroneous, and should be, "he smote fifty out of a thousand," being only 1I(X) in all who indulged this curiosity. God, instead of decimating, according to an ancient usage, slew only a twentieth part; i. e., accoi'ding to Josephus, 70 out of 14(10 (see on Numbers -I. 18-22). 21. KlrJnt]»-jearlm—" the city of woods," also called Kirjathbanl (Joshua 15.60; IH.U; 1 Clironicles 13.6,7). This was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh ; and being a place of strength, was a fitter place for the residence of the ark. Beth-shemesh being In a low plain, and Kivjatli-jearim on a hill, explains the message, "Come ye down, and fetch it up to you."
is thought to have been written on the face of it.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VII.
Ver. 1-18. By the Occasion of the Ill-Government of Samuel's Sons the Israelites Ask a King. 1. when Samuel -was old—He w.as now about fifty-four ye.ars of age, having discharged tlie office of sole judge for twelve years. Unable, from growing infirmities, to prosecute liis circuit Journeys through the country, he at length confined his magisterial duties to Ramali and its iieigliliourhood ; delegating to his sons as his deputies (ch. 7. 15) the administration of justice in the southern districts of Palestine, their provincial court being held at Beer-sheba. The yoimg men, however, did not inherit the liigh quali-
Ver. 1-2. The Ark at KiR.rATH-jEA.HiM. 1. the men of Klrjath-jearlm—"The city of woods," also Kiijatlibaal (Joshua l'>. UO; 18.14; 1 Chronicles l.'i. 5, 6). This was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh, and stood on a hill; this was the reason of the message (ch. 6. 21), and why this was chosen for the convenience of people turning their faces to the ark (1 Kings 8. 2!l-.ir>; Psalm 28. 2; Daniel 6.10). they brought It Into the hotixe of Abinadnb— Why It was not transported at once to Kliiloli, wliere the tabernacle and sacred vessels were remaining. Is difficult lo conjecture, snnctlfled hla son—lie was not a Levite, and was therefore only set apart or ajipointcd to lie keeper of the place. !i. the i»rk abode tweitty yearn In KlrjuthJearlm—It appears. In the subse<iuent history, tliat a much longer period elapsed before Its final removal from Klrjath-jearlm (2 Samuel 6.; 1 Chronicles l:!). Hut tliat length of time had pii«sed whc-n the Israelites began to -evive from their sad state of religious decline. The captureof the ark had produced a general Indirii-ience either ties of their father; ftnd they having corrupted tlie fountains of Justice for tlieir own private aggrandizement, a deputation oS the leading men In the country lodged a complaint against them in headquarters, accompanied with a lorni.al demand for a change in tlie government. The limited and occasional authority of the Juilgcs, the disunion and jealousy of the tribes und(!r the administration of those rulers, had been creatingadesire foraunited and permanent form of government; while the advanced age of Samuel, together with the risk of bis death lup,i,>- 17»