1 Samuel 7:12

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 7:12

And Samuel took a stone, and set it ,.... Not for worship, but as a monument of the victory obtained by the help of God: and this he placed between Mizpeh and Shen ; which latter signifies a tooth, and designs the precipice of a rock which juts out, and hangs over in the form of one: and called the name of it Ebenezer ; which signifies "the stone of help"; and is the same place which by anticipation has this name, 1 Samuel 4:1 , so that in the selfsame place where the Israelites... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 7:12

Called the name of it Eben-ezer - העזר אבן Eben haezer , "The Stone of Help;" perhaps a pillar is meant by the word stone. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone, and … called the name of it Eben-ezer. We saw on 1 Samuel 4:1-22 . I that the place where Israel then suffered defeat, but which now received a more happy name, was an open plain, over which the people now chased their then victorious enemies. Here, then, Samuel set up a memorial, according to Jewish custom, and called its name Help stone. In giving his reason for it, hitherto hath Jehovah helped us, there is a plain indication of the need of further... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:12

Shen was a tooth-pointed or sharp-pointed rock (see 1 Samuel 14:4), nowhere else mentioned and not identified. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 7:12

1 Samuel 7:12. Then Samuel took a stone A rude, unpolished stone, which was not prohibited by that law, Leviticus 26:1, there being no danger of worshipping such a stone, and this being set up only as a monument of the victory. Eben-ezer That is, the stone of help. And this victory was gained in the very same place where the Israelites received their former fatal loss. Helped us He hath begun to help us, though not completely to deliver us. By which wary expression, he excited both... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 7:12

12. Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen—on an open spot between the town and "the crag" (some well-known rock in the neighborhood). A huge stone pillar was erected as a monument of their victory ( :-). The name—Eben-ezer—is thought to have been written on the face of it. read more

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