1 Samuel 7:2-3 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:3-12

Ebenezer. The facts are— 1 . Samuel calls on the people to prove their desire to return to God by putting away idols and preparing their hearts for a blessing. 2 . A response to the call is followed by a summons to Mizpah for prayer and humiliation. 3 . A rumoured approach of the Philistines excites fear, and an urgent request for Samuel's intercession with God. 4 . While Samuel is engaged in worship God discomfits the assailing Philistines by thunder. 5 . The victory... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:2

And all the house of Israel lamented ... - The occupation of the country about Shiloh by the Philistines 1 Samuel 7:3 was partly the reason for the ark being kept so long at Kirjath-jearim. But another reason seems to have been the fall of the Israelites into idolatry, which made them neglect the ark, and brought upon them this Philistine servitude; probably the last 20 years of the Philistine oppression described in Judges 13:1, which is there expressly connected with Israelite idolatry. Now,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:3-5

Compare the marginal references. Twenty years of Samuel’s life had passed away since the last mention of him 1 Samuel 4:1. Now he appears in the threefold character of prophet, Judge, and the acknowledged leader of the whole people. His words were an answer to a profession of repentance on the part of Israel, the practical proof of which would be the putting away all their false gods. (Compare Judges 6:10 note.)Will pray for you ... - So Moses prayed for the people at Rephidim Exodus 17:11-12;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 7:2

1 Samuel 7:2. For it was twenty years It is not said that this space of twenty years was all the time of the ark’s abode there, for it continued there from Eli’s time till David’s reign, (2 Samuel 6:2,) which was forty-six years; but that it was so long there before the Israelites were sensible of their sin and misery. And all the house Or rather, as Dr. Lightfoot translates the words, Then all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord That is, followed after God with lamentations for... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 7:3

1 Samuel 7:3 . Samuel spake to all the house of Israel To all the rulers and people too, as he had occasion in his circuit, described below, mixing exhortations to repentance with his judicial administrations. If ye return unto the Lord If you do indeed what you profess, if you be resolved to go on in that which you seem to have begun; with all your heart Sincerely and in good earnest; put away the strange gods Out of your houses, where some of you keep them; and out of your hearts,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:2-17

Samuel’s leadership (7:2-17)During the years of Philistine oppression, Samuel’s position as chief ruler in Israel became firmly established. As a religious leader he commanded the people to turn from idols and worship the Lord only, and the people responded (2-6a). As a civil leader he settled disputes among them (6b). In response to the people’s repentance and Samuel’s prayers for them, God gave Israel a great victory over the Philistines (7-11). The Israelites continued to fight against the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 7:2

time was long . Ark remained with Philistines seven months (1 Samuel 6:1 ); sent from Ekron to Kirjathjearim in 1040, and remained there twenty years (1 Samuel 7:0 ). From the capture (in 1040BC ) to its entry into Zion (in 950BC) was eighty-nine years (2 Samuel 7:17 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:2

THE ARK REMAINS AT KIRIATH-JEARIM TWENTY YEARS"From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord."This verse has the nature of a parenthesis, the purpose of which is to reveal how long the ark stayed at its new location. Therefore, Caird's allegation that, "This verse gives the impression that 20 years have elapsed between the return of the ark to Beth-shemesh and the battle about to be... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:3

ISRAEL GETS RID OF THEIR FALSE GODS"Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So they put away the Baals and the Ashteroth, and they served the Lord only.""Then" (1 Samuel 7:3). This does not mean "after twenty years," but refers to the time when Israel was... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 7:2

1 Samuel 7:2. That the time was long—twenty years— Houbigant renders this verse much more intelligibly: but after many days had passed from the time that the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, and when the twentieth year was passed, the whole house of Israel sought after the Lord with tears. Samuel was now grown up, and by his instrumentality the Israelites, after this period of rebellion against their God, were recovered to a right sense of themselves and their duty. read more