Fetch up — That is, by the priests appointed to that work. Hill — This place they chose, both because it was a strong place, where it would be the most safe; and an high place, and therefore visible at some distance, which was convenient for them, who were at that time to direct their prayers and fa... [ Continue Reading ]
Kirjath — jearim — Where it continued, and was not carried to Shiloh its former place, either because that place was destroyed by the Philistines when the ark was taken, or because God would hereby punish the wickedness of the people of Israel, by keeping it in a private place near the Philistines,... [ Continue Reading ]
Spake — To all the rulers and people too, as he had occasion in his circuit, described below, mixing exhortation to repentance, with his judicial administrations. If — If you do indeed what you profess, if you are resolved to go on in that which you seem to have begun. With all your heart — Sincerel... [ Continue Reading ]
Poured it out — As an external sign, whereby they testified, both their own filthiness and need of washing by the grace and Spirit of God, and blood of the covenant, and their sincere desire to pour out their hearts before the Lord, in true repentance, and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness o... [ Continue Reading ]
Went up — With an army, suspecting the effects of their general convention, and intending to nip them in the bud. Afraid — Being a company of unarmed persons, and unfit for battle. When sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect Satan will muster all his forces against them, and set his in... [ Continue Reading ]
Cease not, &c. — We are afraid to look God in the face, because of our great wickedness: do thou therefore intercede for us, as Moses did for his generation. They had reason to expect this, because he had promised to pray for them, had promised them deliverance from the Philistines, and they had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
Cried — And he cried unto the Lord. He made intercession with the sacrifice. So Christ intercedes in virtue of his satisfaction. And in all our prayers we must have an eye to his great oblation, depending on him for audience and acceptance.... [ Continue Reading ]
A stone — A rude unpolished stone, which was not prohibited by that law, Leviticus 26:1, there being no danger of worshipping such a stone, and this being set up only as a monument of the victory. Eben — ezer — That is, the stone of help. And this victory was gained in the very same place where the... [ Continue Reading ]
Came no more — That is, with a great host, but only with straggling parties, or garrisons. All the days, &c. — All the days of Samuel that is, while Samuel was their sole judge, or ruler; for in Saul's time they did come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Peace — An agreement for the cessation of all acts of hostility. Amorites — That is, the Canaanites, often called Amorites, because these were formerly the most valiant of all those nations, and the first Enemies which the Israelites met with, when they went to take possession of their land. They ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Samuel judged — For though Saul was king in Samuel's last days, yet Samuel did not cease to be a judge, being so made by God's extraordinary call, which Saul could not destroy; and therefore Samuel did sometimes, upon great occasions, tho' not ordinarily, exercise the office of judge after the begin... [ Continue Reading ]
In all places — He went to those several places, in compliance with the people, whose convenience he was willing to purchase with his own trouble, as an itinerant judge and preacher; and by his presence in several parts, he could the better observe, and rectify all sorts of miscarriages.... [ Continue Reading ]
Built an altar — That by joining sacrifices with his prayers, he might the better obtain direction and assistance from God upon all emergencies. And this was done by prophetical inspiration, as appears by God's acceptance of the sacrifices offered upon it. Indeed Shiloh being now laid waste, and no... [ Continue Reading ]