1 Samuel 7:15-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:13-17

We have here a short account of the further good services that Samuel did to Israel. Having parted them from their idols, and brought them home to their God, he had put them into a capacity of receiving further benefits by his ministry. Having prevailed in that, he becomes, in other instances, a great blessing to them; yet, writing it himself, he is brief in the relation. We are not told here, but it appears (2 Chron. 35:18) that in the days of Samuel the prophet the people of Israel kept the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:15

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. Not only before Saul was made king, but afterwards; for though he had not the exercise of the supreme government of the nation, yet he might act as a judge under Saul, and hear and try causes brought before him, and execute justice and judgment; and as a prophet he taught and instructed the people, and reformed abuses among them; and besides, he held and exercised his extraordinary office, to which he was raised up of God, and even took upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:16

And he went from year to year in circuit ,.... As judges do; or "from the year in the year" F18 מדי שנה בשנה "ex anno in anno". from the time of the year in the year, as the Targum, from the middle of it, that is, every half year; and so Josephus says F19 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 3. sect. 1. , that he went twice a year in circuit: and the places he went to, and where he held his courts of judicature, were Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh ; by Bethel is not meant Shiloh, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:17

And his return was to Ramah ,.... When he had gone his circuit, he came back to this city, which was his native place, and where his father and mother had dwelt, see 1 Samuel 1:1 . for there was his house ; and his father's house before him, and perhaps the same, 1 Samuel 1:19 and there he judged Israel; here was his fixed residence, and here he was always to be met with, except when on his circuit; and hither the people of Israel might come from all parts, to have justice done them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:15

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life - Samuel is supposed to have lived one hundred years; he did not begin to judge Israel till he was about forty years of age; and if he was one hundred years of age when he died, he must have been a judge sixty years, and consequently filled that office during the whole of Saul's reign. But that he had been dead before Saul's last battle, is evident from the transactions of that king with the witch of En-dor, and probably not long... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:16

He went from year to year in circuit - When he was at Beth-el, the tribe of Ephraim, and all the northern parts of the country, could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin, and those beyond Jordan, might have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad; but Ramah was the place of his ordinary abode; and there he held his court, for there he judged Israel; and, as it is probable that Shiloh was destroyed, it is said, 1... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:13-17

First fruits of repentance. The facts are— 1 . Israel enjoy freedom from the oppression of the Philistines and regain lost cities. 2 . Their restless ancestral enemy the Amorite is quiet. 3 . Samuel quietly and happily attends to his civil functions. 4 . Ramah, the home of Samuel, is blessed with an altar to Jehovah. The mention of these suggestive facts immediately after the reference to the call to repentance and its response exhibit the natural results of the efforts of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:17

His return was to Ramah. We have seen that Elkanah was a large landholder there, and Samuel had now apparently succeeded to his father's place. And there he built an altar unto Jehovah. This old patriarchal custom ( Genesis 12:7 ) long continued, and it was only gradually that local shrines and worship on high places were superseded by attendance upon the temple services at Jerusalem. At this time there was especial need for such altars. The established worship at Shiloh had been swept... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:15

Samuel judged Israel ... - The repetition of the phrase in 1 Samuel 7:16-17, in connection with Samuel’s circuit, is a proof that it is his civil judgeship which is meant. The military leadership of course belonged to Saul, when he became king. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:16

Gilgal - It is uncertain whether Gilgal in the valley of the Jordan, or the modern Jiljulieh, the Gilgal of 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:38, be meant; but far more probably the former (see 1 Samuel 11:14 and note). read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:13-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:16

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