1 Samuel 7:8-11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:7-12

Here, I. The Philistines invade Israel (1 Sam. 7:7), taking umbrage from that general meeting for repentance and prayer as if it had been a rendezvous for war, and, if so, they thought it prudent to keep the war out of their own country. They had no just cause for this suspicion; but those that seek to do mischief to others will be forward to imagine that others design mischief to them. Now see here, 1. How evil sometimes seems to come out of good. The religious meeting of the Israelites at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:8

And the children of Israel said to Samuel ,.... To whom they applied, not as the general of their forces, but as the prophet of the Lord; believing his prayers for them would be of more avail to them than an army of men ever so numerous, or so well accoutred: cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us : he had been praying for them that day, and they desired he would continue praying for them, well knowing that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much; they knew... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:9

And Samuel took a sucking lamb ,.... Which it might be, and yet more than eight days old, for under that it might not be sacrificed, Exodus 22:30 . and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord ; the whole of it was burnt, skin and all, whereas the skin was the priest's in other burnt offerings; and this is remarked F13 Midrash Schemuel apud Abarbinel in loc. as one of the three things in which it differed from other offerings; the word being feminine, the Jews gather... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:10

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering .... Which he might do by a priest, as Ben Gersom suggests, he being only a Levite; though he being a prophet, and an extraordinary person, and this an extraordinary case, he might do it himself, as Gideon and others, as well as offer it in another place than where the tabernacle was; Shiloh being now destroyed, persons and places for sacrifice were now dispensed with: and before Samuel had made an end of offering the sacrifice: the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:11

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh ,.... To which they were encouraged by hearing or perceiving that the army of the Philistines was discomfited by the thunder, and lightning, and earthquake: and pursued the Philistines ; who, when they came out, were fleeing from the opening earth, and frightened with thunder and lightning, and many were killed, and all put in disorder; so that they stayed not to engage in battle with Israel, and who had nothing to do but to pursue their enemy: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:8

Cease not to cry unto the Lord - They had strong confidence in the intercession of Samuel, because they knew he was a holy man of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:9

Samuel took a sucking lamb - This sucking lamb must have been eight days under its mother before it could be offered, as the law says, Leviticus 22:27 . Though Samuel was not a priest, yet he offered this sacrifice; or he might have ordered Eleazar to offer it, and still be said to have done it himself: Qui facit per alterum, facit per se ; "He who procures a thing to be done, may be said to do it himself." His not sacrificing at the tabernacle was justified by the necessity of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:10

The Lord thundered with a great thunder - Literally, The Lord thundered with a great voice - he confounded them with a mighty tempest of thunder and lightning, and no doubt slew many by the lightning. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:11

Under Beth-car - We know not where this place was; the Septuagint have Beth-chor; the Targum, Beth-saron; and the Syriac and Arabic, Beth-jasan. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:1-12

Steps of return to God. The whole interest of this passage is moral. No stress is laid on the forms, or even the authorised appurtenances, of religion. The ark, of which we have heard so much, and which had been treated with a singular mixture of superstition and profanity, plays no part in the history. It is left for years in a quiet retreat. Israel had backslidden from the Lord. The steps of their return have a meaning and a moral lesson for all generations. I. THE FEELING OF A... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:7-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:1-12

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