1 Samuel 7:17 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 7:17

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

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custom ( Genesis 12:7 ) long continued, and it was only gradually that local shrines and worship on high places were superseded by attendance upon the temple services at Jerusalem.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 7:17

And there he built an altar - Whether this altar was in connection with the tabernacle or not we have no means of deciding, since we are in complete ignorance as to where the tabernacle was at this time, or who was High Priest, or where he resided. It is quite possible that Samuel may have removed the tabernacle from Shiloh to some place near to Ramah; and indeed it is in itself improbable that, brought up as he was from infancy in the service of the tabernacle, he should have left it. At the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 7:17

1 Samuel 7:17. 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 other place yet appointed for them to bring their offerings to, the law which obliged them to one place was for the present suspended. Therefore, as the patriarchs did, he built an... 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 7:17

there was his house . Compare 1 Samuel 1:19 , &c. altar . Shiloh forsaken, and Ark separated from Tabernacle. There was no chosen "place". read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 7:2-17

A. Samuel’s Ministry as Israel’s Judges 7:2-17As a totally dedicated Nazarite who followed the stipulations of the Mosaic Covenant as best he could, Samuel became a source of deliverance for Israel. The writer recorded two deliverances in this chapter.This section sounds more like the Book of Judges than does any other in 1 or 2 Samuel. The cycle of religious experience repeated six times in that book occurs here as well. That cycle consists of blessing, apostasy, discipline, repentance,... read more