1 Samuel 7:16

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 7:16

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

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 7:16

1 Samuel 7:16. Judged Israel in all those places He went to those several places, in compliance with the people’s desire, whose convenience he was willing to purchase with his own trouble, as an itinerant judge and preacher; and by his presence in several parts, he could the better observe and rectify all sorts of miscarriages and abuses. 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

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 7:2-35

III. SAMUEL AND SAUL 7:2-15:35This third major part of 1 Samuel contains three subsections: Samuel’s ministry as Israel’s judge (1 Samuel 7:2-17), the kingship given to Saul (chs. 8-12), and the kingship removed from Saul (chs. 13-15). The main point seems to be Israel’s unjustified dissatisfaction with her sovereign God and its awful consequences. In spite of His people’s rejection, the Lord continued to show them mercy and faithfulness. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 7:15-17

3. Samuel’s regular ministry 7:15-17In addition to providing the special leadership just described, Samuel’s ministry as a judge in Israel included regular civil, as well as spiritual, leadership. He was active especially in the tribal territory of Benjamin and in the town of Bethel just north of Benjamin in Ephraim’s tribal allotment. Samuel covered a four-town circuit as preacher (prophet) and judge. He was obviously similar to the other judges in the Book of Judges, all of whom also served... read more

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