1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 2 Hannah's song, 1 SAMUEL 2:1. Samuel ministers
before the Lord, 1 SAMUEL 2:11. Eli's sons are wicked, 1 SAMUEL 2:12.
Hannah beareth more children, 1 SAMUEL 2:20,21. Eli reproves his sons,
but mildly 1 SAMUEL 2:22. God by a proverb foretelleth the destruction
of Eli's house, 1 SAMUE... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NONE HOLY AS THE LORD; none so perfectly, exchangeably, and
constantly holy, as God hath showed himself to be in this act of grace
to me, whereby he hath both checked the proud and mighty, and pleaded
the cause of his afflicted servant that trusted in him, and also
fulfilled his promise in... [ Continue Reading ]
TALK NO MORE SO EXCEEDING PROUDLY; thou Peninnah, boast no more of thy
numerous offspring, and speak no more insolently and scornfully of me,
as thou hast done. She speaks of her in the plural number, brings many
because she would not expose her name to censure, but only instruct
and reprove her for... [ Continue Reading ]
This notes either,
1. The strength of which they boasted. See PSALMS 44:6, PSALMS 46:9.
Or,
2. Their malicious or mischievous designs. See PSALMS 7:12, PSALMS
11:2 37:14. Or,
3. Their virulent tongues, which are compared to BOWS that _shoot
their arrows, even bitter words_; as it is said PSALMS 6... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE HIRED THEMSELVES OUT FOR BREAD, through extreme necessity, into
which they are fallen from their greatest plenty. It is the same thing
which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing and
following verses, and properly in the latter branch of this verse.
CEASED, i.e. ceased to be su... [ Continue Reading ]
KILLETH, AND MAKETH ALIVE; either,
1. Diverse persons; he killeth one, and maketh another alive. Or,
2. The same person whom he first killeth, or bringeth very nigh unto
death, he afterwards raiseth to life. Me, who was almost overwhelmed
and consumed with grief, he hath revived. The name of death... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE DUST, i.e. out of their low and miserable condition, as
this phrase is used, 1 KINGS 16:2 PSALMS 113:7 Compare JOB 16:15
PSALMS 22:15. FROM THE DUNGHILL; from the most sordid place and mean
estate. Compare 1 KINGS 16:2 JOB 36:11 PSALMS 7:5. DUNGHILL; which the
poor are said to embrace,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEET, i.e. the steps or paths, their counsels and actions, he will
KEEP, i.e. both uphold, that they may not fall, at least, into
mischief or utter ruin; and direct and preserve from wandering, and
from those fatal mistakes and errors that wicked men daily run into.
SHALL BE SILENT; shall be put... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ADVERSARIES OF THE LORD; and of his people; especially the
Philistines, who at this time were the chief oppressors of Israel.
SHALL BE BROKEN TO PIECES these and the following words are
prophetical of what God was about to do: they who are now our lords,
shall be subdued. OUT OF HEAVEN, i.e. out... [ Continue Reading ]
In some way agreeable to his tender years, as in singing, or playing
upon instruments of music, as they used then to do in God's service;
or lighting the lamps, or some other way. For I suppose Samuel was not
brought to the tabernacle in such tender years as some think; of which
SEE POOLE ON "1 SAMU... [ Continue Reading ]
To wit, practically, i.e. they did not acknowledge honour, regard,
love, or serve God; for so words of knowledge are commonly used in
Scripture: see ROMANS 1:28 1 CORINTHIANS 15:34 TITUS 1:16... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFERED, i.e. presented it to the Lord, to be offered by the priest.
WHILE THE FLESH WAS IN SEETHING; for as the Lord's part of the
peace-offerings was burnt upon the altar, so the priest's and
offerer's parts were to be sodden.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT THE FLESH-HOOK BROUGHT UP THE PRIEST TOOK FOR HIMSELF; not
contented with the breast and shoulder which were allotted them by
God, EXODUS 29:27,28 LE 7:31, they took also part of the offerer's
share; and besides, they snatched their part before it was heaved and
waved, contrary to LEVITICUS... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAT, and the other parts to be burnt with it. See LEVITICUS
3:3,4,9 7:31. So this was an additional injury; for lest the fork
should mistake and injure them, they took such parts as they best
liked whilst it was raw, when it might be better discerned.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE AS MUCH AS THY SOUL DESIRETH; we are content to relinquish our
parts to thee, only let not God be wronged of his due.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIN OF THE YOUNG MEN WAS VERY GREAT; because they violently took
away both man's and God's dues, and this before their time, and that
with manifest contempt of God and men; and all this merely for the
gratifying of their sensual appetite. BEFORE THE LORD, i.e. even in
the place of God's special... [ Continue Reading ]
MINISTERED, i.e. performed his ministration carefully and faithfully,
not corrupting nor abusing it, as Eli's sons did. BEFORE THE LORD; in
God's tabernacle; or as in God's presence, sincerely and regardarly,
with God's approbation. Compare GENESIS 17:1 2 CHRONICLES 26:4. A
LINEN EPHOD; a garment us... [ Continue Reading ]
A LITTLE COAT, suitable to his age and stature, to be worn ordinarily;
for _coats_ were their usual garments. See GENESIS 3:21, GENESIS 37:3
2 SAMUEL 15:32 SONG OF SOLOMON 5:3 DANIEL 3:21 LUKE 3:11, LUKE 9:3.
Knowing that he could not yet do much service, she would not have him
too burdensome to the... [ Continue Reading ]
As their superior, and God's high priest, Eli blessed them in God's
name, and they received his blessing by faith, which made it
effectual, 1 SAMUEL 2:21. SEED, i.e. a child, or rather children, as
the event showed. FOR THE LOAN WHICH IS LENT TO THE LORD, or, _for the
petition_, i.e. the thing desir... [ Continue Reading ]
VISITED, to wit, in mercy, and with his blessing, as that word is
used, GENESIS 21:1 EXODUS 13:19 JEREMIAH 15:15; not in anger, as it is
taken EXODUS 32:34 LEVITICUS 26:16. GREW; not only in age and stature,
but especially in wisdom and goodness, as LUKE 1:15. Or, _was
magnified_; or _grew great_, f... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS VERY OLD; and therefore unfit either to manage his office
himself, or to make a diligent inspection into the carriage of his
sons in holy administrations; which gave them opportunity for their
wickedness. ALL THAT HIS SONS DID UNTO ALL ISRAEL; whom they injured
in their offerings, and alienat... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH THINGS, as those above mentioned, 1 SAMUEL 2:13,22. Eli's sin in
this matter was not only that he reproved them too gently, and
generally, and sparingly; but especially that he contented himself
with a verbal rebuke and did not RESTRAIN THEM, as is said 1 SAMUEL
3:13, and inflict those punishme... [ Continue Reading ]
Words too mild for such diabolical actions. YE MAKE THE LORD'S PEOPLE
TO TRANSGRESS; either,
1. The women that by your instigation were drawn to folly. Or,
2. Others who are easily brought to follow your pernicious example.
Or,
3. Other persons of pious and honest minds, whom therefore he calls
t... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ONE MAN SIN AGAINST ANOTHER, by doing any injury. THE JUDGE SHALL
JUDGE HIM; the magistrate shall by his sentence end the difference,
and both parties shall acquiesce in his determination, and so the
breach shall be made up. The sense is, if only man be wronged, man can
right it, and reconcile th... [ Continue Reading ]
He grew better in bad times, which is remembered to his commendation.... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN OF GOD, i.e. a prophet or preacher sent from God. See 1 TIMOTHY
6:11 2 TIMOTHY 3:17 2 PETER 1:21. Who this was is not revealed by God,
and therefore it is vain to inquire, and impossible to determine. DID
I PLAINLY APPEAR? did I indeed show such a favor, and appear so
evidently and gloriously... [ Continue Reading ]
DID I CHOOSE HIM, to wit, Aaron thy father? whereby he shows what he
meant by his _father's house_. An ephod; that golden ephod which was
peculiar to the high priest. ALL THE OFFERINGS MADE BY FIRE, i.e. all
the priest's part of the offerings. He only had the office, and he had
the whole benefit.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE KICK YE AT MY SACRIFICE; using them irreverently,
contemptuously, and profanely; both by abusing them to your own
luxury, and by causing the people to abhor and neglect them? He
chargeth Eli with his sons faults. HONOUREST THY SONS ABOVE ME;
permitting them to dishonour and injure me, by t... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID INDEED. QUEST. Where or when did God say this? ANSW. Either,
1. When he made that promise for the perpetuation of the priesthood in
Aaron's family, EXODUS 28:43, EXODUS 29:9. OBJECT. If Eli and all his
family had been cut off, yet that promise had been made good in
Eleazar's family: how then... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL CUT OFF THINE ARM, i.e. I will take away thy strength, which is
oft signified by the arm, as JOB 22:8 PSALMS 37:17, or all that in
which thou placest thy confidence and security; either,
1. The ark, which is called God's strength, PSALMS 78:61, and was
Eli's strength, who therefore was not a... [ Continue Reading ]
So the sense is, THOU SHALT SEE, not in thy person, but in thy
posterity, (it being most frequent in Scripture to attribute that to
parents which properly belongs to their posterity only; as GENESIS
17:8 GENESIS 27:29,40) AN ENEMY, i.e. thy competitor, or him who shall
possess that place of high tru... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN OF THINE, i.e. those of thy posterity. FROM MINE ALTAR, i.e.
from attendance upon mine altar; whom I shall not destroy, but suffer
to live, and wait at the altar. SHALL BE TO CONSUME THINE EYES, AND TO
GRIEVE THINE HEART; shall be so forlorn and miserable, that if thou
wast alive to see it,... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO THEE, to wit, of the certain truth of those
sad predictions; and it was fulfilled, 1 SAMUEL 4:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
A FAITHFUL PRIEST, to wit, of another line, as is necessarily implied
by one total removal of that office from Eli's line, before
threatened. The person designed is Zadok, one eminent for his
faithfulness to God and to the king, who, when Abiathar, the last of
Eli's line, was deposed by Solomon, was... [ Continue Reading ]
CROUCH TO HIM, in way of humble supplication. See 1 KINGS 2:26; A
MORSEL OF BREAD; whereas before they were so nice and delicate, that
my liberal allowance could not satisfy them, but they must have their
meat raw and fat, &c., above, 1 SAMUEL 2:13; so the punishment is
suited to the nature of their... [ Continue Reading ]