1 Samuel 2:1-11. The Song of Hannah Hannah's song is a true prophecy. She is inspired "to discern in her own individual experience the universal laws of the divine economy, and to recognise its significance for the whole course of the Kingdom of God." The deliverance from her proud adversary which... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Hannah prayed_ This description of the Psalm is not inappropriate, for prayer includes thanksgiving and praise. Cp. the "prayer of Habakkuk" (Habakkuk 3:1): and the "prayers of David" as a general designation of his psalms (Psalms 72:20). _rejoiceth_ EXULTETH or TRIUMPHETH, a strong word. _min... [ Continue Reading ]
_rock_ A frequent metaphor to describe the strength, faithfulness, and unchangeableness of Jehovah. See Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
_arrogancy_ The old form of the word _arrogance_(cp. innocency for innocence) from the Lat. _arrogantia_. It signifies "claiming more than one's due," "assumption," "pride." _knowledge_ The Heb. word is plural, denoting _varied and extensive knowledge_. _by him actions are weighed_ Jehovah knows th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The bows of the mighty men are broken_, &c. The bow was one of the chief weapons of war (2 Samuel 1:22). Its being broken is a natural symbol of defeat. "To be girded with strength" (Psalms 18:39) is a figure derived from the practice of "girding up the loins" in preparation for active exertion.... [ Continue Reading ]
This knowledge and justice apportion to all their due, and reverse conditions of life contrary to all expectation. Sennacherib's host is annihilated: Gideon's handful triumphs.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ceased_ i.e. are at rest: need toil no more: or, cease to be hungry. _seven_ A perfect family. Cp. Ruth 4:15. _is waxed feeble_ By the loss of her children. Cp. Jeremiah 15:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the grave_ The Heb. word _Sheol_, variously rendered in the E. V. _grave, hell, pit_, denotes the mysterious unseen world, the abode of all departed spirits, righteous and wicked alike. _Hell_, from A. S. _helan_, to cover, hide, would be a fair rendering if we could strip the word of all the assoc... [ Continue Reading ]
In Jehovah's hand are the issues of life and death, prosperity and adversity. All history illustrates this truth. Hezekiah is recalled from the gates of the grave: Job is tried by affliction: David is taken from the sheepfolds to be king: Nebuchadnezzar sinks to the level of a beast: Haman is degrad... [ Continue Reading ]
_out of the dust_ "To sit in the dust" (Isaiah 47:1), or "on the dunghill" (Lamentations 4:5) are Oriental figures for a condition of extreme degradation and misery, derived probably from the practice of mourners (Job 2:8): to share the company of princes, and occupy a throne of honour (Job 36:7) ar... [ Continue Reading ]
It is Jehovah who guards His chosen ones from stumbling in their walk through life (Psalms 56:13; Psalms 91:12); It is He who leaves the wicked to languish in adversity (Job 5:14) or perish miserably (Psalms 31:17; Psalms 55:23); for apart from Him or in opposition to Him human strength is impotence... [ Continue Reading ]
_The adversaries of the_Lord] Render, JEHOVAH, THEY THAT STRIVE WITH HIM SHALL BE BROKEN TO PIECES: AGAINST THEM IN HEAVEN LET HIM (or, HE SHALL) THUNDER: JEHOVAH SHALL JUDGE THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: AND MAY HE (or, HE SHALL) GIVE STRENGTH UNTO HIS KING, AND EXALT THE HORN OF HIS ANOINTED.... [ Continue Reading ]
The faithless priests of Shiloh 12. _sons of Belial_ WORTHLESS MEN. See note on 1 Samuel 1:16. _they knew not the_Lord] Were ignorant of His character and so despised His laws. Cp. Judges 2:10; Job 18:21; Hosea 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the priests" custom_ The law directed the worshipper to present to the priest the fat of the victim along with the breast and shoulder (Leviticus 7:29-34). The fat was to be burned on the altar to Jehovah (Leviticus 3:3-5): the breast and shoulder, after being -waved" and -heaved," a ceremony of de... [ Continue Reading ]
_strooke_ An old form of _struck_, Cp. Milton's _Ode on the Nativity_, "Such music sweet As never was by mortal finger _strook_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also_ EVEN. The climax of their transgression was the offence against Jehovah. _sodden Boiled_: the perf. of -seethe" is -sod" (Genesis 25:29), and the past partic. -sodden.... [ Continue Reading ]
_presently_ "Immediately:" the usual meaning of the word in the E. V., e.g. Matthew 26:53. _he would answer him, Nay_ The correct reading of the Heb. gives "Nay" in place of "him." Cp. note on 1 Samuel 2:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the young men_ Hophni and Phinehas. _men abhorred_ Rather, THE MEN DESPISED, or, BROUGHT INTO CONTEMPT THE OFFERING OF JEHOVAH. The Sept. omits _the men_. Corruption in the priesthood begets profanity in the people. Cp. Malachi 2:8-9. "They made it vile in the eyes of the people by shewing how vil... [ Continue Reading ]
Samuel's ministry in the tabernacle 18. _Samuel ministered_ The writer dwells upon the contrast between Samuel and the sons of Eli. We see the child attending upon Eli in the sanctuary, growing before the Lord, in favour both with the Lord and with men, chosen to be God's messenger to Eli, and fina... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover_, &c. Lit. "And Hannah used to make … and bring it to him … And Eli used to bless … and they used to go unto his home." The verbs are frequentative, describing an annual practice often repeated.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a little coat_ The Heb. _mĕîl_denotes a kind of long upper tunic, worn by kings (1 Chronicles 15:27), prophets (1 Samuel 15:27), men of position (Job 2:12), women of rank (2 Samuel 13:18). The term is applied to a part of the High Priest's dress, _the robe_of the Ephod (Exodus 28:31), and it is sug... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the loan which is lent_ Better as in the margin, IN RETURN FOR THE PETITION WHICH SHE ASKED FOR JEHOVAH: i.e. in place of Samuel, for whom she prayed in order to dedicate him to God. Cp. 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:27-28, and note on 1 Samuel 2:28. _unto their own home_ Lit., "to his (Elkanah's)... [ Continue Reading ]
_grew before the_Lord] Three stages of physical, moral (1 Samuel 2:26), and spiritual (1 Samuel 3:19-21) growth are marked.... [ Continue Reading ]
Eli's fruitless expostulations with his sons 22. _heard_ " USED TO HEAR all that his sons WERE DOING," constantly and habitually. _the women that assembled_ Rather, THAT SERVED. The word is applied to (_a_) military service: (_b_) Levitical service (Numbers 4:13; Numbers 8:24): and it seems probab... [ Continue Reading ]
_for I hear of your evil dealings_ Rather, FOR I HEAR EVIL THINGS OF YON FROM ALL THIS PEOPLE.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If one man_&c. Better, IF A MAN SIN AGAINST A MAN, THEN ELOHIM SHALL JUDGE HIM: BUT IF A MAN SIN AGAINST JEHOVAH, WHO SHALL INTERCEDE FOR HIM? For man's offences against his fellow-man, there is a third superior party to arbitrate and rectify the wrongs, namely God, or God's representative, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_grew on, and was in favour_ A childhood like that of Jesus (Luke 2:52). Again Samuel's progress is contrasted with the declension of Hophni and Phinehas.... [ Continue Reading ]
The doom of Eli's house 27. _a man of God_ i.e. a prophet commissioned by God. Even in the general decay of religion (1 Samuel 3:1) God still had his messengers. The title "man of God" is applied to Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and others. It is specially frequent in the Books of Kings. _Did I p... [ Continue Reading ]
_him_ Perhaps we should read, IT (the house of Aaron) TO BE MY PRIESTS (Exodus 28:1-4). The priestly functions are mentioned in an ascending scale: (_a_) the common sacrificial duties, (_b_) offering incense in the Holy Place (Exodus 30:7-8), (_c_) wearing an ephod, i.e. serving as High-priest, for... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore kick ye_ Better, WHEREFORE DO YE TRAMPLE UPON, i.e. treat with contempt. _at my sacrifice and at mine offering_ When the words are distinguished, that rendered _sacrifice_(literally _slaying_) includes as a general term all sacrifices of slain animals: that rendered _offering_(literally... [ Continue Reading ]
_saith_ The Heb. word is one rarely used except of _a solemn divine utterance_, as in Genesis 22:16, and very commonly in the prophets. _I said indeed that thy house, and the house of the father, should walk before me for ever_ God had promised that the family of Aaron in all its branches should se... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will cut off thine arm_ = I will destroy thy strength. "The arm" is a common expression for "might," "strength." Cp. Psalms 10:15; Zechariah 11:17. One signal fulfilment of this doom was the massacre of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:18-19).... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation_ Or, A RIVAL, the same word as that rendered "adversary" in 1 Samuel 1:6. The best explanation of this difficult passage appears to be this: -Thou, in the person of thy descendants, wilt see another take thy place as priest in my habitation (cp. 1 Samuel 2:2... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the man_, &c. or, YET EVERY MAN OF THINE WILL I NOT CUT OFF FROM MINE ALTAR, TO CONSUME THINE EYES AND TO VEX THY SOUL; i.e. some will still survive to mourn over the ruin of their family. "_Thine_eyes," "_thy_soul," because Eli is identified with his posterity. But the Sept. has "_his_eyes," ... [ Continue Reading ]
_this shall be a sign unto thee_ The immediate fulfilment of one prediction will serve as a sign or assurance that the rest will not fail to come to pass. Such signs were often given by prophets as the credentials of their mission. Cp. ch. 1Sa 10:7-9; 1 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 20:8-9; Luke 1:18; Luke 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse forms no part of the sign, but is to be connected with 1 Samuel 2:33. _a faithful priest_ The prophecy is commonly supposed to have been fulfilled in Zadok, whose descendants retained the High-priesthood till the end of the monarchy (1 Chronicles 6:8-15). But that Samuel is meant seems c... [ Continue Reading ]
_crouch_ Lit. BOW HIMSELF DOWN. _a piece of silver_ The Heb. word means _such a coin as beggars would receive_. _a morsel of bread_ Rather, A CAKE OF BREAD. The same word is used in 1 Samuel 10:3 (E. V. _loaves_), and denotes a round flat cake or loaf.... [ Continue Reading ]