And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision. Ver. 1. _And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli._] _Praemonstrante et instruente eum Eli._ Eli being his tutor and teacher, he was tractable a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could not see;_ Ver. 2. _At that time._] Much about that time that the aforesaid prophet had spoken to Eli, 1Sa 2:27-36 or not long after. Clouds cluster against a storm. Or rather, At... [ Continue Reading ]
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to sleep]; Ver. 3. _And ere the lamp of God went out,_] _i.e., _ Early in the morning, before it was day. For they did not then burn daylight, as the superstitious Papists do by their t... [ Continue Reading ]
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I. Ver. 4. _That the Lord called Samuel_] _Gratuita et inopinata est vocatio nostra_ Eph 1:11 God calleth his people of free grace, and when they least think of it. _ And he answered, Here am I._] A hearing ear is a sweet mercy: a heavy ear,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. Ver. 5. _And he ran unto Eli._] This showeth his diligence in attending on his blind master, though he were now but twelve years old, as saith Josephus. _ And he w... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Ver. 6. _And the Lord called yet again, Samuel._] How oft do we either turn the deaf ear to God's call, or else mistake, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. Ver. 7. _Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord,_] _i.e., _ He knew him not in that way peculiar to prophets: for otherwise he knew the Lord a far deal better than Eli's two sons did, 1Sa 2:12 and yet he and... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Ver. 8. _And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child._] There was a special providence in it, that Samuel shou... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Ver. 9. _That thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth._] Eli, though his conscience told him that Samuel... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. Ver. 10. _And the Lord came, and stood._] In some visible shape, either by an angel, or at least as he did, late in Queen Mary's days, to Robert Samuel, martyr, who havi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. Ver. 11. _I will do a thing in Israel._] All the people are threatened, as well us those priests; because for their faults they abhorred the Lord's sacrifice, and from... [ Continue Reading ]
In that day I will perform against Eli all [things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. Ver. 12. _When I begin, I will also make an end._] _Praestabo reipsa quod verbis minitor._ Execution of justice is God's work, though his strange work, Isa 28:21 and... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. Ver. 13. _For I have told him._] And he shall find that I told him so not _in terrorem,_ only to frighten him. _ For the iniquity which he... [ Continue Reading ]
And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. Ver. 14. That the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged.] Hence some concluded that their sin was that sin unto death, 1Jn 5:16 for which "there remaine... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. Ver. 15. And Samuel … opened the doors of the house.] His modesty appeareth in that, (1.) He doeth his former office of doorkeeper, though he were now become a prophet: he was... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here [am] I. Ver. 16. _Then Eli called Samuel._] He had a sore conscience, as his sons a seared, and such as presaged no good.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. Ver. 17. _What is the thing that the Lord, &c._] He is earnest to know the worst: for... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. Ver. 18. _Told him every whit._] Bitter truths must be spoken, however they be taken; and if ministers be mannerly in the form, yet in the matter of their message let them be r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground._ Ver. 19. _Fall to the ground._] _Metaph._ _a liquidis, aut ab aedificationibus collapsis._... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD._ Ver. 20. _That Samuel was established._] Because his words were fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. Ver. 21. _By the word of the Lord._] That is, By Christ, _as _ 2Sa 7:21 or by prophetic revelation.... [ Continue Reading ]