Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Preface
PREFACE.
THE two Bookes of Samuel and of the Kings are called foure books of the Kings by the Latines; but by the Hebrews they are divided onelyonly into two, Samuel and Malachim, or Kings, saith Hugo, as Hugo Card.they must needs be to make but 22 Books of Canonicall Scripture in the Old Testament, as hath been shewed in the entrance of Joshua. Yet Jerom Hieron. in prologo.in his Prologue upon this Book, saith, that some distinguish the Old Testament into 24 Bookes, holding Ruth to be a Book by it selfe, and the Lamentation of Jeremiah, reckoning them amongst the Hagiographa; which number of 24 was set forth by the 24 Elders, Rev. 4. 10. For the Author of these two Books of Samuel, it is generally held that he wrote them unto that Peter Martyr.place where his death is described; and from thence that which followeth, was supplyed as some thinke, by Gad or Nathan, some by Hezekiah and Ezra. Hugo following the Ord. Glosse, saith, that the history after Samuels death, was written by David till the end of his time, then by Solomon and other Kings, or by their appointment, successively for their times; and that Ieremiab brought Samuel and Kings into one continued history, which appeareth, because his prophesie endeth as these Bookes. The history here, and in the two Bookes of the Kings, set forth from Eli to the last Babylonish captivity, is of 570 yeares. How Eli came to be Judge, is not said, but it is most probable, that after Samson there was none other Judge extraordinarily stirred up, and so the forme of government was by an Aristocracy, that is, the Councell of Lxx, above all which the High-priest being for his time, executed the office of a Judge or supreme Magistrate, 1 Sam. 4. 18. and thus Eli at this time Judged Israel. For the drift of this History, it is, as of the Book of Judges, to shew how the promises and threatenings of the Law tooke effect, the Judges, and Kings, and people that transgressed being grievously punished, and those that kept the law, graciously preserved and made famous by wonderfull victories over their enemies, that wee by these examples might bee warned against evill and excited to well doing. More over, as Origen noteth, the temperall deliverances of Gods people from many dangers and miseries in these Bookes Origen Hom. 1. in Iudic.recorded, doe give us occasion to consider of a greater deliverance wrought for us by Christ, and to meditate upon our happinesse herein, seeing this is the scope both of the law and prophets to bring us to Christ. And the captivities and mise…ies of the Kings and people sinning serve to put us in minde of a farre more grievous misery to come in hell fire for ever, and so to make us flee from sinne. The Bookes of Samuel, saith Comestor, have their name from Eccles. Historiathe writer, and those of the Kings from the matter in them handled. And because the history of Samuels birth, life and gestes take up a great part of this Booke, it is begun with his parents, and with their commendations.