Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
THE Arke is setcht by the men of Kiriath-jearim, and placed in the house V. 1.of Abinadab upon the hill, and his sonne Eleazar was by them sanctified to keepe the Arke, and here it abode 20 yeares, and all Israel is said to have lamented after the Lord. And it is thought by Jerom and others, that not onelyonly the Arke was now gone from Shiloh, but the Tabernacle also: for it was in Nob, Ch. 21. but not said, when it was carryed thither, and 1 Chron. 16. 39. it is plainly intimated to have beene in Gibeon. Comestor for Abinadab hath Aminadab, and unto these words, where it remained 20. yeares, hee addeth, Schol. Histor.even unto the 8. yeere of the reigne of Saul, when hee tooke it into tents, and for these words, all Israel lamented after the Lord, hee hath these words, then Israel rested after the Lord, his wrath being pacified towards them. The Vulgar Latin also hath Aminadah in Gabaah, for Abinadab on the hill, and all Israel rested after the Lord. But foreign is not a proper name in this place, seeing Gibeah or Gabaah was in Benjamin, this in Judah, and the word foreign jinnathu signifieth they lamented, not they rested, but another word written with foreign, viz. foreign, so that the translator was deceived by the likenesse of the word, and Hebr. it is Abinadab. Our translation then is the best, in the house of Abinadab upon the hill, for so the word foreign signifieth, and all Israel lamented after the Lord. Yet 2 Sam. 6. 3. where Davids removing of the Arke from Abinadabs house is spoken of, it is said Abinadabs house, which was in Gibeah, as being another City, and not in Kiriath-jearim, but of this I shall speake more by and by. Here is no mention made of the Tabernacle any more, for in stead of a Tabernacle the Arke abode in an house, Abinadab is thought to have beene a Levite, and hee being now aged, and unable to doe this service, his sonne Eleazar was appointed unto it: But whether hee were a Levite or not, see more upon 2 Sam. 6. v. 9. Thus the house of Eli was rejected a long time, as was threatened, and afterwards in Solomons time for ever. Of a Tabernacle yet set up for the Arke in the City … David wee read againe, 2 Sam. 6. 17. Lyra. Osiander. Pellican.The sanctifying of Eleazar was nothing else, saith Lyra, but their appointing him to this office to keepe the Arke covered, and to keepe men from approaching any more too neare unto it to gaze upon it. For the abiding of the Arke in Kiriath-jearim 20 yeares, this is generally held to have beene in the house of Abinadab, as the words seeme to imply, for if hee had not dwelt in that City, why should the men thereof have fetcht the Arke thither? Yet Lyra saith, that Gibeah where Abinadab dwelt, was another City in the Lyra.Tribe of Benjamin, and that the Arke was not now carryed to his house, but long after, having first remained in Kiriath-jearim, then in Mizpah, in Gilgal, and in Nob, and then lastly it was kept in Abinadahs house: of which opinion of his see more upon Josh. 18. 1, 2. in my exposition there. Whereas Comestor saith, it remained here, till the 8. yeere of the reigne of Saul, that cannot bee true, because even in Davids time wee read of it, as being there still. The reason, that might move Lyra to adjourne the bringing of the 2 Sam. 6.Arke to Abinadabs house so long, happily might bee, partly because he could not see, how it could bee true, that it stood there but 20. yeeres, seeing it remained there till the reigne of David, and before that under Samuel and Saul had passed 40. yeares, in the beginning of which time it was first brought thither, if when it was brought form Bethshem. to Kiriath-jearim it was placed there But this is well resolved by Peter Martyr, Pellican and others, that the 20. yeares Peter Martyr. Pellican. Osiander.here spoken of were not the whole time of the arks being in Abinadabs honse, but the time, till the solemne turning of the Israelites, and putting away their idols, at the exhortation of Samuel, as here followeth, v. 3, 4. after which it seemeth, that it aboade there still, by that which is said 2 Sam. 6. untill the time of David, but onelyonly that sometimes in this space it was happily removed to other places before mentioned upon occasion, and after a while brought backe to this place againe. But Peter Martyr thinketh, that not the Arke, but the Tabernacle onelyonly was in those places, Mizpeh, Gilgal and Nob, being disjoyned from the Arke alwayes after the taking of the Arke by the Philistims. For the lamenting of the house of Israel after the Lord: Peter Martyr readeth it, the whole house of Israel lamented, and followed after the Lord. Junius, they lamenting cryed unto the Lord, but herein the sense is more respected, then the rendring of the place verbatim, for so it is, they lamented after the Lord, but the meaning is, they were not moved with repentance by that great overthrow, which they had received by the Philistims, nor by the coming of the Arke backe againe, but having gone on in idolatry and other wickednesse after this 20 yeares together, and suffering much at the Philistims hands, and broken at length with many miseries, they now begin to be humbled, and to cry unto the Lord, as in other times of their oppressions, they had also formerly done.
All which is implyed by the next words of Samuel, If yee returne to the Lord V. 3.with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods, and Ashteroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord, and serve him onelyonly, and hee will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistims: so that Josephus erred greatly in saying, that the people Joseph. Antiq. lib. 6. c. 2.sought the Lord all these 20. yeares with sacrifices and prayers, which Samuel seeing makes his exhortation unto them. For if they had returned, the Lord would not have left them so long to the oppressions of their enemies, neither would there have beene any neede for Samuel at this time to exhort them to put away their strange gods. It is more probable, that being offended with the great slaughter made amongst them at the Arkes returne, they let that stand in Abinadabs house, neglecting to seeke unto it, and following strange Gods, for which cause they were given over to the oppressions of the Philistims, and now wearyed with sufferings they lamented, &c. touching Ashteroth and Baalim also, see Judg. 2. 13. If it bee demanded whether Samuel did not exhort them all these 20. yeares, it is answered by Tostatus and others, that without doubt hee did, but could not hitherto prevaile, for he being an holy Prophet and a Judge next after Eli, would not certainly neglect to doe his best endeavour to convert them, even from the beginning of his authority.
Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Ashteroth and served the Lord V. 4.onelyonly: for if any other be served together with God, such service is abominable, whether it be an idoll of the heathen, or an image of the Papists; and the word foreign, is to bee noted by the Sept. rendred foreign; that the vanity of the Popish distinction may appeare, who say that foreign is to be given to God onelyonly, but foreign to saints and images also, for both are appropriated to the Lord, both here and Matth. 4. 10.
Then they were all gathered together to Mizpeh to Samuel, that hee might V. 5, 6.pray for them, as hee appointed, and they drew water and powred it out before the Lord and fasted on that day, and said, wee have sinned, and Samuel judged them in Mizpeh. Of Mizpeh see before Judg. 11. in the history of Iephtah, but this was not the same, but another upon the border of Judah and Benjamin, as is shewed Josh. 11. 3. it was neare to Ramah, where Samuel dwelt, and famous for assemblies, Judg. 20. Some of the Rabbins thinke it was the same with Junius.Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was; but this cannot bee, if it bee true, which hath beene noted upon Judg. 20. and Ch. 21. 2, 12. And yet I cannot see, why this assembly should now be called to Mizpeh, unlesse the Tabernacle or Arke were there at this time, for to assemble before the Lord, is before the Tabernacle: wherefore it is held by Jerom and Tostatus, that the Tabernacle was now in this place, removed most probably by Samuels direction, and afterwards it was removed to Nob; and where it stood, the people came together & sacrifices were offered, the Arke in the meane season being onelyonly kept safe and covered in Abinidabs house. Yet if an Oratory were there as 1 Maccab. 3. 46. they might assemble thither for his cause. For the water, which they are said to have powred out, Comest. saith it was a cursed water, which any idolater drinking had his lip Schol. Histor.hereby glued together, inseparably, & there he ludged the people, that is, taught them the judgements of the Lord. Yet some, hee saith, affirme, that hee tooke a certaine idoll and stamped it to pouder, and made them to drinke thereof mixed with water, and then by their beards judged who were guilty of Idolatry, and who not. Lyra also reciteth this exposition, but preferreth another of R. Solomon, who saith, that their powring out of water, was in way of humiliation for their sinnes, by reason whereof they hereby acknowledged, that they were as water poured out, and had no strength: or, that of Jonathan Ben Oziel, they poured out water to signifie the teares, that came downe from their eyes out of the contrition of their hearts. And hee judged Israel there, that is, heard their complaints against one another, and made a reconciliation amongst them. Hugo saith, that they poured out water, to shew, that as water Hugo Cardin.poured out returneth not againe, so they would no more returne to their idolatry. Junius following the Chald, saith, they shed teares in such abundance Iunius.for their sinnes, as if they had drawne and poured out water in abundance. Peter Martyr having recited the expositions before-going, and rejecting that as a fable, of the water being drunke to try the Idolaters, of Peter Martyr.which mention is made by Jerom in tradit. Hebr. because the water was not drunke, but poured out, &c. and adding another of some Rabbins, that this was done as a symbole of the remission of their sinnes, as by water filthinesse is washed away; and that of Josephus, that water was poured out for a drinke-offering, hee concludeth, that nothing else was here meant, but that they drew and poured out water to wash themselves, as in legall purifications it was required. But I rather preferre that before of some Rabbins, that this was done in humiliation, to signifie, that they were all as water poured out, that they ascribing no strength unto themselves, but relying upon God onelyonly, hee might be on their side. Yet for Samuels judging Israel in this place, I hold with Peter Martyr, that most probably is meant his being made Judge now first there, because although it is said before, that he was known to be a Prophet, yet that he was Judge, we read not till this time.
The Lords of the Philistims hearing that all the Israelites were together in V. 7, 8.Mizpeh, as Josephus saith, unarmed, they came up against them; and they being affraid, desired Samuel not to cease crying to the Lord for them; then hee took a sucking Lambe, and offered it up whole for a burnt-offering, and cryed to the V. 9, 10.Lord, who heard him, and thundered upon the Philistims that day, and they were discomsited before Israel. Josephus relateth it thus, The people of Israel Josephus. Antiq. lib 6. cap. 2.being at Samuel's appointment, gathered together to M…spat, the Philistims gathered together, thinking to set upon them suddenly, before they should think of their comming, and thus easily to overcome them: Then they besought Samuel to pray for them, who were now altogether unprepared, and had neither strength nor heart to goe to battaile against them, being so often already overcome by them. And when he had prayed and offered a sucking Lambe in sacrifice, the Philistims came in sight before that it was wholly consumed, but then the earth quaked under them, and gaped so in divers places, that many of them fell into it, and the rest were so smitten and burnt in part with often thunders and lightenings, that they had no strength to hold their weapons; wherefore they fled before Israel, and Samuel with the people pursued them, and slew very many of them, and following on his victory, hee recovered the land which the Philistims had formerly taken from them, from Ekron even unto Gath, neither durst the Philistims come out to fight any more against them, but kept them within their owne bounds all the dayes of Samuel, as it also here followeth, v. 13, 14. Touching the sucking Lambe which Samuel is said here to have offered, some of the Rabbins thinke that hee himselfe did not offer it, R. L. B. Gerson. D. Kimhi.but appointed the Priest to offer it, because hee was a Levite; but R. Kimhi better, that hee offered it himselfe, as hee might well doe by reason of his propheticall calling, for by vertue hereof Elias also offered sacrifice, 1 King. 18. It is said to bee a sucking Lambe, to shew that it was of no great worth, and so that God Peter Martyr.looketh not to the greatnesse of the gift, but to the heart of the offerer; and a Lambe was offered, to set forth the true Lambe of God Christ Jesus, by vertue of the sacrifice of whose death, God is made propitious to sinners. And Samuel cryed to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him. Some thinke that he answered him by fire sent downe from heaven to consume the sacrifice, as the Rabbins: some, that the next words shew how hee heard him, The Lord V. 10.thundred that day upon the Philistims, &c. and of this kinde of hearing we are certaine, but not of the other. The Philistims came against them at this time, Lyra.saith Lyra, because that being under their Tribute ever since the taking of the Arke, they were forbidden, to prevent rebellion, at any time to assemble together; wherefore hearing now that they were assembled contrary to this order, they came up against them, but the Lord turned it to their owne destruction, hee fought for his people from heaven, as hee did before, Josh. 10. and Judg. 5.
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistims, and V. 11. Iunius.smote them to a place lying under Bethcar, that is, saith Junius, to a certaine Rock so called, between which and Mizpeh, Samuel is said in the next verse to have set up a stone. It is said indeed, v. 12, Samuel set up a stone between Mizpeh and Shen, as if by Shen, not Bethcar, but some other place, the boundary of the Philistims Countrey were meant; but Shen is by Junius rendred that Rocke, the word properly signifying a tooth; but because this Rock hung over like a tooth, this word is used to expresse it: so likewise Pagnine, and this is by Willet Paguin. Willet.maintained: 1 Because Chap. 14. 4, 5. the same word is put for a rock. 2 Because Josephus saith, that Bethear was this rock set amongst the Coreans, from whom it had the name. But hee saith onelyonly, that they pursued the Philistims Joseph. Antiq. lib. 6. c. 2.even to the Corrhaeans (for that is the name of the place) and there he set up a stone for a monument of this victory, and called it fortis, strong; yet from hence it may bee gathered that the name Bethcar, or Bethcor came from those Coreans, of which hee speaketh.
The Philistims being thus brought under, are said to have come no more into the coast of Israel; and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistims all V. 13.the dayes of Samuel. The contrary to this seemeth to bee set forth, Chap. 10. 5. where a garison of the Philistims is said to have been at the hill of God, and Chap. 13. 50. they came up in very great multitudes, and pitched in Michmash; but the meaning here is, that they came no more against Israel with any success, whilst Samuel lived, for Jonathan and his Armour-bearer alone began to overthrow them, and then Saul pursued the victory against them. Junius saith, Junius. Peter Martyr.that they came not to inlarge their bounds any more, but defended them onelyonly by Garisons. Peter Martyr, they came not till Samuel grew old, and his sons having the government committed to them, ruled ill: for then because of their new invasions, the people desired to have a King to fight for them. But this is manifestly against the words of the text, all the dayes of Samuel, and the first is best.
So Israel was againe inlarged, and lived in peace, for the Philistims were subdued, V. 14.and they were in peace with the Amorites; whereby, as by a generall name, all the inhabitants of those parts are understood, both Philistims and others, the state of Israel was now quiet after this victory, and the Cities before taken from them restored.
And Samuel judged Israel all the dayes of his life. How could this be, seeing Saul V. 15.was made King long before hee dyed? Lyra saith, it is meant only till Saul was Lyra. Junius.made King. But Iunius better, even when Saul was King, hee together with Saul judged them still, as appeareth, Chap. 11. 7. Chap. 15. where hee slayeth Agag; and Acts 13. 21. Samuel and Saul are joyned together in the government. And Peter Martyr more fully, although hee made his sonnes Judges, Peter Martyr.yet hee did not put himselfe out of this office; and when hee anointed Saul King, hee retained still a Judicative power over all, yea, even the King himself; and therefore he reproveth him, and anointeth David for King, so that he was as it were King of Kings, Saul was the ordinary Magistrate, and hee the extraordinary.
And hee went from yeare to yeare in circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, &c. V. 16. Junius.For Bethel, Iunius hath, the house of God, expounding it of Kiriath-jearim, where the Arke war, and therefore the people assembled thither at the three great feastivall times of the yeare appointed Exod. 23. and so it was a fit place for Samuel at such times to come and judge the people there. Gilgal was on the middle of the end of the Land eastward near Jordan; and Mizpeh at the other end westward, and so most fit for the people of all parts to assemble unto. Others take Bethel for a proper name of that City where Jacob had his vision, Gen. 28. H. Bunting saith, Bethel was but two miles from Gilgal, and from Ramab H. Bunting Patriar. tavailes.16, and Mizpeh from Gilgal 30 miles. But Willet defendeth that of Junius, because it is called the house of God where the Arke was, Judg. 20. 18. 1 Sam. 3. 15. Chap. 10. 3. and it is most likely, that because the people assembled thither together at feastivall times, Samuel took this opportunity to come and judge them there. Yet to mee, a place properly called Bethel seemeth rather to be meant here, because the other names are proper, and Assemblies to holy Feasts were not so fit for judging Civill causes; and if hee had taken the opportunities of their meetings at Gods house, he should not have needed to have gone about to other places also, seeing he had them then all together in that one place. Samuel is here set forth for an example to other Rulers and Note. Judges, that they should not put the people to unnecessary toyle in comming over far for judgement, nor otherwise oppresse or poll them, but provide for their good.
Having gone his Circuit, hee still alwayes returned to Ramah, where hee dwelt. But how covld hee leave the Tabernacle, to which hee was dedicated by his mother for ever, to dwell in another place? Answ. When God advanced Qu. him to be Judge over Israel, hee called him out by a new calling from serving any more about the Tabernacle, and therefore hee might well leave that place to follow his calling, for vows hold no longer but till that Gods pleasure bee revealed to the contrary, so Peter Martyr; upon this see somewhat before, 1 Sam. 1. 28. Borrhaeus saith, as long as the Tabernacle was in Shiloh, hee was Borrh…us.bound by his mothers vow to serve there, but now this place being destroyed, and the abode of the Tabernacle uncertaine, he was bound no longer; but I assent rather to the other.
And there hee built an Altar to the Lord, that is, saith Junius, at Kiriath-jearim, V. 17.where the Arke was, being therefore called Bethel, v. 16. but it is plainly spoken of Ramah, and so Peter Martyr understandeth it, and others, justifying this Peter Martyr.his fact, because hee was a Prophet, and so did it by direction from God, although Deut. 12. 14. Pellican. Osiander.ordinarily no Altar might be made but at the place chosen by God; and the rather might this now bee done, because the Arke had now no certaine place, and happily it might then be brought to Ramah, although it be no where spoken of. Theodoret qu. 15. in 1 Reg. saith, before the Temple was set up, it was lawfull to build an Altar in other places; but because this was done by Elijah at Carmel after the Temple was built, he saith, it was to bee understood as an exception to the generall rule, that the men of God might set up Altars and sacrifice any where. The reason why an Altar was now set up here, was, because the people gathered thither together often times to Samuel, and then it was consulted about things pertaining to the Weale publique, which it was not fit to doe without publique calling upon God; and the ground of prayer is faith, the ground of faith, Gods promises, and the promises are sealed up unto us by outward signes; so Peter Martyr.
Mystically by the thunder here sent against the Philistims, Rabanus understandeth Rabanus. The Mystery.the preaching of the Gospel, whereby errours are overthrowne, and pursued even to Bethchar, that is, till all errour is purged out, and God is acknowledged, according to the signification of the word, the house of acknowledgement; and then Christ the true Ebenezer, or stone of helpe, in whom all our help and health, lyeth is set up, which is when we beleeve in him.