Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:9 - 7:17
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The Philistines Overthrown
v. 9. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, one having been about seven days with its mother, Lev_22:27, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord, without having divided it according to the usual form of burnt offerings. And Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him, gave him an answer in the defeat of their enemies, as now related.
v. 10. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, while this act of worship was still going on, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the Lord thundered with a great thunder, with terrific peals, which followed one after another, on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them, so that they were terrified, confused, and confounded; and they were smitten before Israel, literally, "before the face of Israel," while the Israelites were looking on in wonder.
v. 11. And the men of Israel, while the enemies turned away in confusion, went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them until they came under Bethcar, below a city at some distance from the field of battle.
v. 12. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, at the place where the two former battles with the Philistines had also been fought, and called the name of it Ebenezer (stone of help), saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Although the victory did not complete the deliverance from the oppression of the Philistines, yet it pointed to the fact that Jehovah was once more with the army of Israel, and therefore this token of thanksgiving in the name of the whole people properly expressed the sentiments which were stirring their hearts.
v. 13. So the Philistines were subdued, in consequence of this victory, and they came no more into the coast of Israel, all attempts made by them with this object in view were promptly frustrated; and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel; while he lived, they did not regain the supremacy over Israel which they once held.
v. 14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath, these cities being on the Philistine frontier. These cities themselves were clearly not included in the territory which they yielded, the text merely stating that Israel recovered the land on the Philistine borders between Ekron and Gath, which had originally been subdued by the armies of Judah and Simeon, Jdg_1:18. And the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites; the other Canaanitish nations, among whom the Amorites were the strongest, thought it the best policy not to undertake any campaigns against the children of Israel.
v. 15. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, rendering decisions in difficult matters and proposing measures for the benefit of the people even when Saul had been made king.
v. 16. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, toward the north, and Gilgal, in the valley of Jordan near Jericho, and Mizpeh, toward the southwest, and judged Israel in all those places.
v. 17. And his return was to Ramah, to this city he always came back; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel, when not absent on one of his circuit-court trips; and there he built an altar unto the Lord. Although the Tabernacle remained at Shiloh for the time being, public worship was, for a number of years, carried on in other places as well. Thus Samuel, as judge, prophet, and priest, performed the work of his office and taught Israel the ways of the Lord. Herein he is a type of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Priest, Prophet, and King in one person, who sacrificed Himself for the sins of all men, gives knowledge of the salvation gained by Him through the Gospel, and lives and reigns throughout eternity.