1 They of Kirjath-jearim bring the ark into the house of Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar, his son to keep it 2 After twenty years, 3-6 the Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh 7-12 While Samuel prays and sacrifices, the Lord discomfits the Philistines by thunder at Eben-ezer 13,14 The Philistines are subdued 15-17 Samuel judges Israel

Kirjath-jearim 1Sa 6:21 Jos 18:14 2Sa 6:2 1Ch 13:5,6 Ps 132:6

Abinadab 2Sa 6:3,4 1Ch 13:7 Isa 52:11

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

lamented Jud 2:4 Jer 3:13,22-25 31:9 Zec 12:10,11 Mt 5:4 2Co 7:10,11

3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

A.M. 2884 B.C. 1120 An. Ex. Is. 371
return De 30:2-10 1Ki 8:48 Isa 55:7 Ho 6:1,2 14:1 Joe 2:12,13

put away Ge 35:2 Jos 24:14,23 Jud 2:13 10:6

prepare De 30:6 1Ch 22:19 28:9 2Ch 30:19 Job 11:13,14 Pr 16:1 Jer 4:3,4 Eze 18:31 Mt 15:8 Joh 4:24

serve him De 6:13 10:20 13:4 Mt 4:10 6:24 Lu 4:8

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

Jud 2:11,13 10:15,16 1Ki 11:33 Ho 14:3,8

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

Gather Ne 9:1 Joe 2:16

Mizpeh 1Sa 7:12,16 10:17 Jos 15:38 Jud 20:1 2Ki 25:23

I will pray 1Sa 12:23

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

drew water Grottius says, that the pouring out of water means the shedding of tears; and the Targum reads, `And they poured out their hearts in penitence, as waters, before the Lord.' Others suppose that it was done emblematically, to represent the contrition of their hearts, and their desire to wash away their past offences. But some learned men conceive that it was poured out as a libation, in token of joy, after they had fasted and confessed their sin, as they were wont to do in the feast of tabernacles. (See note on Nu. 29:35). 1Sa 1:15 2Sa 14:14 Job 16:20 Ps 6:6 42:3 119:136 Jer 9:1 La 2:11,18 3:49

fasted 2Ch 20:3 Ezr 8:21-23 Ne 9:1-3 Da 9:3-5 Joe 2:12 Jon 3:1-10

We have sinned Le 26:40 Jud 10:10 1Ki 8:47 Ezr 9:5-10 Job 33:27 40:4 42:6 Ps 38:3-8 106:6 Jer 3:13,14 31:19 Lu 15:18

judged Jud 3:10 Ne 9:27 Eze 20:4

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

afraid 1Sa 13:6 17:11 Ex 14:10 2Ch 20:3

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

Cease, etc. [heb] Be not silent from us from crying 1Sa 12:19-24 Isa 37:4 62:1,6,7 Jas 5:16

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

a sucking 1Sa 7:17 6:14,15 9:12 10:8 16:2 Jud 6:26,28 1Ki 18:30-38

cried unto Ps 50:15 99:6 Jer 15:1 Jas 5:16

heard. or, answered.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

thundered 1Sa 2:10 12:17 Ex 9:23-25 Jud 5:8,20 Ps 18:11-14 77:16-18 97:3,4 Re 16:18-21

discomfited De 20:3,4 Jos 10:10 Jud 4:15 5:20 Zec 4:6

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

Beth-car This place was probably situated in the tribe of Dan. Josephus calls it (); the LXX. (); Targum, Beth-saron; Syriac and Arabic Beth-jasan; by which Houbigant supposes is meant Beth-shan.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

took a stone Ge 28:18,19 31:45-52 35:14 Jos 4:9,20-24 24:26,27 Isa 19:19

Eben-ezer. that is, The stone of help. 1Sa 4:1 5:1 Ge 22:14 Ex 17:15

Hitherto Ps 71:6,17 Isa 46:3,4 Ac 26:22 2Co 1:10

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

subdued Jud 13:1

came no more 1Sa 13:1-5

against 1Sa 14:6-16,20-23 17:49-53 28:3-5 31:1-7

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

peace De 7:2,16 Jud 4:17 Ps 106:34

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

A.M. 2873-2947 B.C. 1131-1057
judged 1Sa 7:6 12:1 25:1 Jud 2:16 3:10,11 Ac 13:20,21

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

he went When he was at Bethel, the tribe of Ephraim and all the northern parts of the country could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin and those beyond Jordan could have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within the reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad: but at Ramah was the place of his ordinary abode; and there he held his court, for there he judged Israel: and as it is probable that Shiloh was destroyed, it is said (ver. 17) that there, i.e, at Ramah, `he build an altar to the Lord.'

in circuit [heb] and he circuited Jud 5:10 10:4 12:14 Ps 75:2 82:3,4

17 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.

his return 1Sa 1:1,19 8:4 19:18-23

he built 1Sa 11:15 Ge 12:7,8 33:20 35:7 Jud 21:5 1Ki 18:30-36