And it came to pass, while the ark abode in
Kirjathjearim,
that the time was long
It could not be less than between forty and fifty years, for it
remained here until the times of David, who removed it from hence
after he was made king over all Israel, and when he had reigned
over Judah seven years; and from the death of Eli to that time,
which included the government of Samuel and Saul, it could not be
less than what has been hinted:
for it [was] twenty years;
not that this was all the time the ark was at Kirjathjearim, but
it was so long there before it was much taken notice of, and
sought unto, and the Lord by it; there was a great neglect of
God, and his worship, which through the means of Samuel began to
revive about this time, as it follows:
and all the house of Israel lamented after the
Lord;
became sensible of their evil doings, and repented of them, and
sought the Lord with fasting, and prayer, and tears; bewailed
their backslidings and revoltings from him, and cried after a
departing God.
