Westminster Annotations, 1 Samuel (1 Kings) · Chapter 2 – Chapter 5
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. HAnnah prayed] That is, rendred praises and thanksgivings.
My heart rejoyceth in the Lord] Luke 1. 46. To wit, for his great mercy in giving me this son.
mine horn] That is, my strength, a speech borrowed from horned beasts, whose strength and comelinesse is in their horns. Psal. 92. 10. 148. 14.
is exalted] That is, increased and advanced above my adversaries.
my mouth is enlarged] That is, I date now boldly open my mouth.
over my enemies] That is, Peninnah and all like her, that upbraided me with barrennesse, seeing now the LORD hath made me fruitfull.
in thy salvation [That is, in this benefit, whereby the LORD hath saved me from the reproach of my adversaries.
V. 2. none beside thee] That is, none essentially holy, but onelyonly thou who art infinitely holy.
any rock] That is, not any sure strength, upon which we may safely rely, Deut. 32. 4, 15. Psal. 18. 2, 31.
like our God] Psal. 86. 8.
V. 3. Talk no more] That is, let not Peninnah, or any other adversery insult over me with their proud speeches, as being barren.
let not arrogancy] Heb. hard; That is, glorious and arrogant speeches, ascribing much to your selves above others.
a God of knowledge] And therefore seeth the vanity of your proud brags, and insolent carriages.
actions are weighed] That is, enterprises are established, that is, he ordereth and disposeth of mens actions and proceedings according to his own will.
V. 4. The bowes] That is, he weakneth the mighty that trust in their own power, and strengthneth the weak, that through feeblenesse are ready to stumble and fall.
V. 5. were full, have hired] Luk. 1. 53. That is, the rich are brought to such extreme poverty, that they are fain to become servants to get victualls, Lam. 5. 6.
ceased] Namely, to be hungry, and injoy plenty, Luke 1. 53.
born seven] That is, many children, and are become fruitfull, Ruth. 4. 11.
waxed feeble] Namely, to conceive and bear children.
V. 6. The Lord killeth and maketh alive] Deut. 32. 39. Ezek. 32. 11, 12. or Tob. 13. 2. Wisd. 16. 13. That is, he is LORD of life and death, and hath both at his command.
to the grave] That is, into the depth of misery, Psal. 130. 1. and raiseth them out of their afflictions.
V. 8. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust] Psal. 113. 7. Job 36. 11. Luk. 1. 52. That is, out of the greatest misery and affliction.
the begger] That is, the most poor from their basest condition.
for the pillars of the earth are the Lords] Psal. 102. 25. and 104. 5. That is, God is the LORD of the whole earth from the one pole to the other, and he hath made it the center or foundation of the world.
V. 9. keep the feet] That is, he will direct and protect them in all their wayes.
silent in darknesse] That is, counfounded in their miseries, not daring to mutter, nor to boast and glory as now they do.
V. 10. thunder upon them] See Chap. 7. 10.
strength unto his king] That is, his Son Christ, who shall have all power in heaven and earth committed unto him, Mat. 28. 18. and obtain victory over all his enemies, Luk. 1. 69. Psal. 148. 14.
his anointed] That is, the Messias, JESUS CHRIST, of whom she prophesieth. So Psal. 2. 2.
V. 11. did minister] That is, did service in the tabernacle, when he was come to some maturity and ability.
before Eli] That is, by his command and direction.
V. 12. were sons of Belial] See Deut. 13. 13. and Judg. 19. 22. and Chap. 1. 16. See 1 King. 21. 10.
knew not the Lord] That is, with saving knowledge, to fear and serve him, Rom. 1. 28. Tit. 1. 16. Jere. 9. 3.
V. 13. priests custome] That is, a wicked innovation introduced by these priests, and sons of Belial.
offered sacrifice] That is, brought to be offered by the priest.
V. 14. flesh-hook brought up] The priests portion in peaceofferings, was onelyonly the shoulder and brest, and the rest belonged to them that brought the oblation, Lev. 7. 31, 32. but they by violence took any other part that came first to hand; neither did they wave it before the LORD, according to the law, Lev. 7. 34
V. 15. burnt the fat] According to the law, Levit. 3. 3, 4.
V. 16. presently] Heb. as on the day.
and then take] Not regarding their own profit, but onelyonly desiring that God might be served aright.
V. 17. of the young men] To wit, the sons of Eli.
abhorred the offering] That is, because they so shamelessely abused their oblations to their own luxury, their hearts were estranged from Gods worship.
V. 18. with a linen ephod] The ephod was an habite appropriated to Gods service, which was of two kindes in respect of the materialls. The one of rich and costly stuff for the high priest onelyonly, of which, see Exod. 28. 4, 6. The other of linen, for inseriour priests and Levites, which others also might use in Gods service, 2 Sam 6. 14.
V. 19. yearly sacrifice] To wit, at the feast of the passeover.
V. 20. Eli blessed Elkanah] That is, in Gods name, as being high priest.
for the loan which is lent] Or, petition which she asked, &c. That is, instead of the son dedicated to God, who was obtained by prayer.
V. 21. visited Hannah] That is, according to Eli his blessing made her fruitfull.
grew before the Lord] To wit, in stature and wisedom, Luk. 1. 80. and 2. 57.
V. 22. assembled at the door of the tabernacle] Heb. assembled by troops, as they used to do, Exod. 38 8. Especially, when after their childe-bearing they came to be purified, according to the law, Levit. 12. 6.
V. 23. I hear of your evill dealings] Or, I hear evill words of you.
V. 24. Nay, my sons] That is, do not such wickednesse.
to transgresse] Or, to cry out; That is, either by drawing them to the like filthinesse by your ill example, or by causing them to abhorre and neglect Gods service, seeing your prophanenesse.
V. 25. shall judge him] Before whom, by some means or mediation, the matter may be taken up and compounded.
a man sin] That is, presumptuously, and with an high hand, who dare presume to mediate for him before this supreme Majesty, seeing the sin is committed against the judge himself? But especially, what means of reconciliation can be expected, when as you the Lords priests, who mediate for the sins of others, are your selves the offenders? See Chap. 3. 14.
because the Lord] That is, because the LORD was resolved to slay them for their abominable wickednesse; therefore he did not blesse unto them this means, of bringing them to repentance. 2 Chro. 25. 16.
V. 26. grew on] Luke 2. 52.
V. 27. a man of God] That is, a prophet, 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 17.
of thy father] That is, Aaron, from whose son Ithamar, Eli was descended.
V. 28. all the offerings] That is, all the parts of the oblations which were not to be consumed by fire upon the altar, Levit. 7. 24. and 10. 14. Numb. 18. 18.
V. 29. Wherefore kick ye] Deut. 32. 15. Both thou and thy sons contemning my sacrifices, and as it were, treading them under your feet, and making them also contemptible to the people.
my habitation] That is, my tabernacle.
honourest thy sons] By chusing to displease me, rather then them, not punishing them for their sins, nor turning them out of their priests office, which they have so shamefully abused, thou having power so to do.
V. 30. I said indeed] To wit, when I setled thy father and his sons, in the priests office, Exod. 28. 43. and 29. 9. Yet not absolutely, but upon condition of your obedience.
walk before] To wit, in the execution of the priests office, according to my statutes.
Be it far from me] That is, because you have so basely abused it, and your selves; be it far from me, to establish the priesthood in your house.
V. 31. cut off thine arm] That is, thy chiefest strength, both by slaying thy two eldest sons, and depriving thy house of the priests office, by which they have all their power and authority.
V. 32. And thou shalt see] That is, thy posterity to their great grief shall behold.
an enemy in my habitation] Or, the affliction of the tabernacle for all the wealth which God would have given Israel; That is an other high priest and priesthood, substituted in my temple, in thine and their room, which thy posterity shall envy, and hate as enemies, because as rivalls they shall enjoy your honour and powers the which was done by Solomon, who thrust out Abiathar, and put Zadoc in his room, 1 King. 1. 26, 27.
in all the wealth] That is, in all the riches and prosperity which God shall give Israel in the dayes of Solomon. Others by this enemy, understand the P…il…stines, the defeat of the Israelites, and the c…ptivity of the ark; of which, the tabernacle was deprived seven mon…ths.
V. 33. And the man] That is, of thy posterity which shall remain in the office of the priesthood, and not be cut off in the battell against the Philistines, Chap. 4.
shall be] Or, should be; Namely, if thou shouldest live so long to see it, such a miserable object and cause of grief, as would make thee weep out thine eyes, to behold it; which was fulfilled in the horrible murther of the priests by Saul, 1 Sam. 22. 18. and the deposing of Abiathar by Solomon, 1 King. 2. 26.
in the flower of their age] Heb men.
V. 34. a signe unto thee] That is, that I am a true prophet sent of God, and that all these threatnings shall in their due time come to passe, that all these calamities shall shortly begin with the death of thy two sons, Chap. 4. 11.
V. 35. a faithfull priest] To wit, Zadoc who was descended from Eleazar, 1 Chro. 29. 22. and was faithfull both to God, and also to his Kings, David, and Solomon.
a sure house] That is, by multiplying his issue, and continuing both him and his posterity in the office of the high priest, according to the promise made to Phinchas Zadoc's progenitor, Numb. 25. 13. See 1 King, 2. 24. Isai. 22. 23.
and he shall] That is, he and his posterity shall walk; to wit, in the execution of the high priests office.
before mine anointed] That is, David and Solomon as types, and the Lord Christ typified by them.
for ever] That is, all the dayes of his life.
V. 36. shall come and crouch] That is, to Zadoc and his posterity, as it was fulfilled, 1 King. 2. 26. Ezek. 44. 14, &c. Neither could Abiath us small means maintain himself and family, after he was deposed, without having some help and relief from the provisions of the tabernacle and temple▪
Put me] Heb. Joyn.
one of the priests offices] Or, somewhat about the priesthood.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. BEfore Eli] See Chap. 2. 11. the word; that is, of …xtraordinary prophecy was precious; that is, there were but few prophets to reveal it, and by reason hereof, it was very rare, Psal. 74. 0.
no open vision] That is, publikely known, though some had private visions, as Gedion and Manoah.
V. 2. at that time] To wit, when it was so rare and precious.
in his place] That is, in some part of the court next to the tabernacle, where the priests chambers were.
and his eyes began to wax dim… 1 Sam. 4. 15.
not see] That is, cleerly as in former times.
V. 3. ere the lamp] That is, before morning; for they were to be refreshed, that they might not go out, Exod. 27. 20, 21. Levit. 24. 3.
in the temple] That is, the tabernacle.
V. 7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord] Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him; To wit, as a prophet, by way of vision and extraordinary revelation by voice and speech; and as it is probable in a visible apparition, implyed in those words, The Lord came, and stood, and called, used, v. 10.
V. 9. in his place] Which was in a remote part of the court where the Levites chambers were.
V. 10. thy servant heareth] That is, attendeth, and is ready to obey.
V. 11. I will do a thing] That is, cause a great slaughter to be made in Israel, as Chap. 4. 10. and the ark to be taken, v. 11.
shall tingle] A phrase used in Scripture, to signifie such great horrour and astonishment upon the hearing of some terrible accident, as shall weaken and debilitate the very sense, like the report of a cannon going off neer the ear. So King. 21. 12. Jere. 19. 3.
V. 12. which I have spoken] To wit, by the man of God. See Chap. 2. 27.
when I begin] Heb. beginning and ending: Namely, to execute the judgements threatned, I will not desist till they be fully accomplished.
V. 13. For I have told him] Or, and I will tell him, &c. Chap. 2. 29, 30, 31, &c.
will judge] That is, execute my just judgements upon him, and his family and posterity.
made themselves vile] Or, accursed; That is, base and contemptible by their wicked practices.
restrained them] Heb. frowned not upon them; No, not so much as by frowning upon them, though he ought to have severely punished them, as being not onelyonly their father, but also the high priest and judge.
V. 14. the iniquity] That is, the temporall punishment of their sin is so immutably determined, that by no means it can be avoided, nor my sentence revoked. See Chap. 2. v. 25.
V. 15. vision] Or the things revealed unto him by this vision or apparition.
V. 17. God do so] See Ruth. 1. 17.
more] Heb. so adde.
thing] Or, word.
V. 18. every whit] Heb. all the things, or, words.
let him do what seemeth him good] Psal. 39. 9. Isai. 39. 8.
V. 19. was with him] That is, favouring and multiplying …is graces in him.
let none of his words fall] That is, fail and come to nothing, but effectually fulfilled all that he had spoken to Samuel. See 1 King. 8. 56. and Matth. 10. 29. Some referre it to the words of Samuel which God accomplished, Isai. 55. 10, 11.
V. 20. from Dan] That is, from one end of the land to the other. See Judg. 20. 2.
established] Or, faithfull.
V. 21. by the word of the Lord] To wit, revealed to Samuel by dreams, visions and apparitions, which before his time were so rare and precious. Some understand hereby the eternall word of the LORD, JESUS CHRIST. So 2 Sam. 7. 21. Joh. 1. 1.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. THe word of Samuel] That is, the prophecy revealed unto him by the LORD, concerning the slaughter of the Israelites came to passe, as he foretold, Chap. 3. 11.
came] Or, came to passe. Heb. was.
Eben-ezer] That is, the stone of help, so called here by anticipation; for it was so named afterwards by Samuel upon the occasion of his victory, Chap. 7. 12.
in Aphek] A city in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15. 53.
V. 2. they joyned battell] Heb. the battell was spread.
the army] Heb. the aray.
V. 3. Wherefore hath the Lord] Some think that this expedition was by Samuels advice, which maketh them upon their ill successe, to aske this question, not being duly conscious to themselves of their demerits and sin.
fetch the ark] Heb. take unto us. Not asking before counsell of God, and trusting more in the visible signe of Gods presence, then in his promises apprehended by faith.
V. 4. between the cherubims] From whence God gave his answers to Moses, Aaron, and others that succeeded them, Exod. 25. 22. Numb. 7. 89. See 2 King. 19. 15.
were there] That is, in the camp, or in Shiloh, where the ark was before it was brought thence.
V. 7. Wo unto us] For before we fought against men, and now God is come to fight against us, Exod. 14. 25.
heretofore] Heb. yesterday, or the third day.
V. 8. these mighty Gods] Speaking impiously of the one onelyonly true God, after their own idolatrous manner, who worshipped many gods or idols.
in the wildernesse] That is, not onelyonly in the land of Egypt, but also in the red sea, which lyeth by the wildernesse of Etham, Exod. 13. 20. and 14. 27.
V. 9. as they have been to you] Judg. 13. 1.
quit your selves like men] Heb. be men.
V. 10. into his tent] That is, to his own dwelling. So Cha. 13. 2. 1 King. 12. 16.
V. 11. was taken] Psal. 78. 61.
Hophni and P…neh…s] Chap. 2. 34.
were slain] Heb. died.
V. 12. clothes rent] That is, in token of grief and mourning. See Josh. 7. 6.
V. 13. watching] That is, expecting news from the camp.
all the citie cryed out] That is, lamented for that great defeat, and the taking of the ark.
V. 15. his eyes were dun] Chap. 3. 2. Heb. stood.
V. 16. is there done] Heb. is the thing.
V. 17. are dead] That is, are slain in the battle.
V. 18. of the gate] To wit, of the city where he sa…e, expecting news, or of the tabernacle where he usually attended, Chap. 1. 9.
V. 19. to be delivered] Or, to cry out.
she bowed her self] To wit, by reason of her pain and anguish that came upon her, upon the sudden, hearing of this lamentable news.
came upon her] Heb. were turned.
V. 20. neither did she regard it] Heb. set not her heart.
V. 21. I-chabod] That is, where is the glory? or, there is glory.
The glory is departed] For the ark of God was the glory of Israel, because it was a signe of Gods gracious presence among his people, Psal. 26. 8. and 78. 61.
V. 22. And she said] That is, by repeating her words, she more fully expressed the greatnesse of her grief.
CHAP. V.
Vers. 1. EBen-ezer] See Chap. 4. 1.
Ashdod] One of the five chiefest cities of the Philistines, which is also called Azotus, Act. 8. 40.
V. 2. of Dagon] That is, triumphing in their victory which they ascribed to their idoll. See Judg. 16. 23.
V. 4. the stump o… Dagon] Or, the fishy part.
V. 5. on the threshold] Superstitiously ascribing unto it holinesse, because their idoll had touched it with his head and hands, that fell upon it.
of Dagon] That is, of Dagons temple.
V. 6. destroyed them] To wit, their persons with emerods, a grievous plague, in their hinder parts, as it is Psal. 78. 66. and their countrey with mice, Chap. 6. 4, 5.
V. 8. unto Gath] Which was another of their five principall cities, not far from the sea. This city was also called Methegammah, because it was situate on a little hill called Ammah, which David afterwards took. See 2 Samuel 8. verse 1. compared with 1 Chron. 18. 1. and Hazael after him. 2 King… 12. 17.
V. 9. in the secret parts] Which were so extream, that they could have no ease nor cure.
V. 10. to Ekron] Which was also one of the five principall cities of the Philistines; which in the division of the land, fell to Judahs lot, Josh. 15. 35. See Judg. 1. 18. and 3. 3.
cryed out] As fearing by the coming of the ark, to have the like plagues inflicted on them, wherewith their neighbour cities were destroyed.
slay us] That is, both the lords, who it seemeth thus complained and the people.
V. 12. that died not] It seemeth that they were punished with some other mortall disease, besides the emerods, of which many died, and caused that deadly destruction spoken of, v. 11.