Harmony Upon 1 Samuel, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
1. Quest. v. 1. How Samuels word came to all Israel.
There are fowre expositions of these words: 1. some thus interpret: the word of Samuel was knowne to all Israel: C. Pellic. and so referre it to the latter ende of the former chapter, v. 20. how all Israel knew that faithfull Samuel was the Lords Prophet. But here, the word knowne is added, it is not in the originall. 2. Others expound it of Samuels speaking to all Israel, that the warre should be vndertaken by the commandement of Samuel: sic Vat. Genev. but the Philistims, as it appeareth, first prouoked the Israelites to battell: & it would hauehave somewhat derogated to Samuel at the first, if he should hauehave beene the perswader of such an vnfortunate battell. 3. Some then vnderstand it of Samuels admonitions and preachings to the people, to draw them to repentance. Osiand. 4. But this, going before the lamentable euent of the battell with the Philistims, as a preface vntounto it, rather signifieth, that the word of Samuel came to passe in this manner to all Israel: for he had prophesied not onelyonly against Helies house, but had shewed, that all Israel should tast of the same iudgement: their eares should tingle, when they heard the heauie newes. c. 3.11. And by the euent of these prophesies Samuel got credit and estimation with all Israel. Iun.
2. Quest. v. 3. Of the Israelites sending for of the Arke into the campe.
1. Their presumption appeareth, in commanding as it were the Arke of God to be brought vntounto them, causing it to be fet without any pompe, or due reuerence, by the ministerie of the prophane and vngodly priests the sonnes of Heli. Pellic. 2. Further, they did it presumptuously, in aduenturing thus to doe of their owne head, neuer consulting with Samuel, nor hauing any such warrant, or commaundement from God. Osiand. 3. Their carnall confidence is manifest, in trusting to the Arke of wood, hauing God their enemie, who, as Iosephus saith, was greater then the Arke, which was to be reuerenced for him: they seeke not to amend their manners, nor to be reconciled to God by repentance, nor to remooue the wicked priests. Pellic. Osiand. 4. Much like hereunto was the superstitious practise of the Papists, who in the time of common calamities, as of the pestilence, and vnseasonable weather, would goe about in procession, in the streetes, with their pix and the host: as though there were vertue in such ceremonies, to appease the wrath of God. Osiand. Mar. And much like also are carnall Christians to these superstitious Israelites,Controv. Not to repose any trust in ceremonies. who are confident vponupon their baptisme, and the receiuing of the Eucharist, and such other badges of their profession: which are but witnesses against them, & meanes to prouoke the wrath of God the more, while they are not answerable to their profession in their life: like as the Israelites, at the presence of the Ark, had a greater ouerthrow then before. Borr. 5. Dauid carried an other minde, who sent backe the Arke againe to Ierusalem, when he fled from Absalom, 2. Sam. 15. perswading himselfe, that there was more force in true humilitie and repentance, then in the sight and presence of any ceremonie whatsoeuer.
3. Quest. v. 7. Of the feare of the Philistims.
1. This was no true feare of God proceeding of louelove, but from a seruile minde, beeing terrified with the expectation of Gods iudgements: such a feare was in Pharaoh, and in the Cananites, at the comming of the Israelites: so the Deuills doe feare also and tremble. Bor. 2. These Philistims had no knowledge at all of the true God, but a superstitious imagination, that he was like vntounto their gods: and therefore they speake of the onelyonly God, as of many, calling them gods, v. 8. These are the gods that smote the Egyptians: because they thēselues worshipped many gods. Iun. 3. They, as all Idolaters hauehave no sure confidence in their idols, but speake as desperate men, not knowing which way to turne them. Osiand.
4. Quest. v. 8. How it is said, which smote the Egyptians with plagues in the wildernesse.
Whereas the plagues, which were laide vponupon the Egyptians, were sent vponupon them in Egypt, and not in the desert: to remooue this doubt, 1. some insert a coniunction copulatiue,Reconcil. and in the desert. Sept. Vatab. 2. Some doe vnderstand it of the wonders, which the Lord wrought for his people in the desert: sic Chald. Osiand. but then many words must be supplied, which are not in the text. 3. Some doe giuegive an other interpretation, and would hauehave midbar here not to signifie the desert, but the word: for by the word of God in the mouth of Moses, were all those plagues brought: so is the word taken, Cantic. 4.3. Thy speech (midbar) is comely: ex Borr. but it is not like, that the blind ignorant Philistims, had such vnderstanding of the power of Gods word. 4. Wherefore, hauing made mention of all the plagues wherewith the Egyptians were smitten, and forced to let Israel goe, as they are declared in Exodus vntounto the 11. chap. they adde also in the desert, because, in the ouerthrow of the Egyptians in the red sea, which ioyned to the desert of Etham, there was a consummation of all the former plagues: Iun. and it was the last, and most grieuous plague of all. Genev. So that the first solution commeth nearest to the point, to vnderstand the plagues, wherewith they were smitten, partly in Egypt, partly in the desert.
5. Quest. v. 12. Of the man of Beniamin that came with the heauie tidings, and of his behauiour.
1. Some of the Hebrewes without any ground doe imagine, that this should be Saul, that ranne from the battell, and had taken out of the Arke the tables of stone. ex Pellican. But this is not like: for then Saul, when he was annointed by Samuel, should hauehave beene past a young man, as he is there called, c. 9.2. which was aboue twentie yeare after this battell, as may be gathered, c. 7.6. for the Arke abode after this 20. yeres in Kiriathiearim before Sauls electiō to be king: & D. Kimchi vseth this reason, that seeing the Lord strooke Vzzah for touching the Arke, Saul could not hauehave gone vnpunished, if he had opened the Arke to take out the Tables of stone. It was then some messenger of the tribe of Beniamin, some ordinarie person, of no great account, because he is not expressed by name. 2. He vseth two ceremonies to shew his griefe: the rending of his garments, which argued a minde rent, and perplexed with griefe: and the earth vponupon his head shewed their mortall and casuall state, that must goe to the earth againe: Borr. see the like Iosh. 7.6. Iun.
6. Quest. v. 18. Of the causes of the suddaine death of Heli.
1. The principall cause was the iustice of God, in punishing by this temporall iudgement, the negligence of Eli and remissenes, in not correcting his sonnes: that as he bowed not the necks of his sonnes to the yoke, so his necke as a iust recompense, is now bowed and broken. Borr. 2. The subordinate cause, was the lamentable report of so many calamities, which fell out together, Israel fled, his sonnes slaine, and the Arke taken, at the which he grieued most of all: the messenger maketh no pause at all, but vttereth all his heauie newes at once, as it were of purpose, to oppresse and ouerload him with griefe; whereas, if he had taken time, to tell it by degrees, his griefe might hauehave beene somewhat allaied. 3. The instrumentall cause, was his falling from his seate: which was not a low stoole, but an high throne, as Iosephus, as meete for the person of the high priest, and chiefe Iudge: so he fell high: and he was also very old, almost, of an hundred yeares, and so his bodie was grosse and quarrie, and he not nimble to shift for himselfe. Vatab. Adde also hereunto, that he was very dimme sighted, and so could not see which waies to helpe himselfe.
7. Quest. v. 18. What is to be thought of Helies case before God.
1. Temporall corrections, though they be vntounto the death of the bodie, are not signes that a man is cast off and forsaken of God: as Ionathan and Iosias were cut off suddenly in battell, yet both of them good men. 2. Neither yet is sudden death to be taken alwaies as a forerunner of euerlasting punishment: Moses died in his strength, and without sicknesse: Sampson ended his daies all at once, when he pulled downe the house vponupon his head and the Philistims: sudden death to the children of God, is but as the translation of Henoch and Elias, which was in a moment: therefore Heli is not to be condemned, because this iudgement of sudden death fell vponupon him. 3. But it may rather be gathered, that Heli was (notwithstanding some infirmities) a good man: and though he could not escape this temporall punishment, which for example sake, the Lord had purposed to bring vponupon him; yet it may safely be thought, that he died in the state of grace, in respect of euerlasting life. 1. This may be gathered by his innocencie, and honestie of life, who misliked the sinnes of his children, as it may appeare by his reprehension of them, though it were too milde and fauourable: neither doth the Scripture obiect any crime of note vntounto him, but that of negligence and remissenes toward his children. 2. His patience is euident, that when Samuel had declared vntounto him the purpose of God, in iudging his house, he meekely made this answer, as submitting himselfe to the will of God, v. 18. He is the Lord, let him doe what seemeth good: as comforting himselfe in God, though he could not auoid that outward chastisement. Osiand. Pellican. The like patient resolution was in Dauid: But if he thus say, I hauehave no delight in thee, behold here I am, let him doe to me, as seemeth good in his eyes, 2. Sam. 15.26. 3. Further, his zeale and louelove vntounto religion appeareth, who tooke more grieuously the losse of the Arke, then the death of his sonnes, and desired no longer to liue, the Arke beeing taken. 4. Lastly, that saying of Ecclesiasticus may be applied vntounto Heli: Concerning the Iudges, eueryevery one by his name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, their memorie be blessed: Ecclesiast. 46.11. for of this number was Heli, one of the Iudges, who is not found to hauehave misled the people vntounto Idolatrie or false worship.
8. Quest. v. 21. Of the death of Phinehes wife, and of her sonne Ichabod.
1. This woman grieuing more for the losse of the Arke, then reioycing that shee had gained a sonne, and for very griefe giuing vp the ghost, and making no great account of the death of her father in law and husband, in regard of that dishonour, which by the taking of the Arke would redound vntounto God, therein sheweth her zeale and louelove vntounto religion, which her husband wanted. Pellican. 2. Shee thereupon named her sonne Ichabod: which is compounded of two wordes, ee, which signifieth vae, woe: Osiand. or, where: Pellican. rather it is put for een, not, or no, Iun. the other word is cabadh, glorie: Ichabod then is, where is the glorie: or rather, no glorie. Iosephus thinketh, that shee came before her time, and that Ichabod was borne at seuen moneths: but that is not like, because the child liued, c. 14.3. but here Samuels prophesie is fulfilled, that there should not be an old man left of Helies house. 3. This translating of the glorie of God to the Philistims, prefigured the oblation of grace to the Gentiles, and the remoouing of the glorie of religion from the obstinate Iewes. Pellican.