1 Samuel 7

1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and took it to Abinadab's house on the hill.^[a] They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.

Victory at Mizpah

2 Time went by until 20 years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel began to seek the Lord.

3 Samuel told them, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart,^[b] get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you,^[c] dedicate yourselves to^[d] the Lord, and worship only Him. Then He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines."

4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths^[e] and only worshiped the Lord.

5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf."^[f]

6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord's presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel [began to lead] the Israelites at Mizpah as [their] judge.

7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard [about it], they were afraid because of the Philistines.

8 The Israelites said to Samuel, "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines."

9 Then Samuel took a young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him.

10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly^[g] against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.^[h]

11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.

12 Afterwards, Samuel took a stone and set it upright^[i] between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[j] explaining, "The Lord has helped us to this point."

13 So the Philistines were subdued and^[k] did not invade Israel's territory again. The Lord's hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel's life.

14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.

16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.

17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he had built an altar to the Lord there.

1 Samuel 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The ark removed to Kirjath-jearim. (1-4) The Israelites solemnly repent. (5,6) The Lord discomfits the Philistines. (7-12) They are subdued, Samuel judges Israel. (13-17)

Verses 1-4 God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them, the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive it. It is no new thing for God's ark to be in a private house. Christ and his apostles preached from house to house, when they could not have public places. Twenty years passed before the house of Israel cared for the want of the ark. During this time the prophet Samuel laboured to revive true religion. The few words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most effectual revivals of religion which ever took place in Israel.

Verses 5-6 Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord; signifying their humiliation and sorrow for sin. They pour out their hearts in repentance before the Lord. They were free and full in their confession, and fixed in their resolution to cast away from them all their wrong doings. They made a public confession, We have sinned against the Lord; thus giving glory to God, and taking shame to themselves. And if we thus confess our sins, we shall find our God faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

Verses 7-12 The Philistines invaded Israel. When sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect that Satan will muster all his force against them, and set his instruments at work to the utmost, to oppose and discourage them. The Israelites earnestly beg Samuel to pray for them. Oh what a comfort it is to all believers, that our great Intercessor above never ceases, is never silent! for he always appears in the presence of God for us. Samuel's sacrifice, without his prayer, had been an empty shadow. God gave a gracious answer. And Samuel erected a memorial of this victory, to the glory of God, and to encourage Israel. Through successive generations, the church of God has had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed against her, because "hitherto the Lord hath helped her:" and he will help, even to the end of the world.

Verses 13-17 In this great revival of true religion, the ark was neither removed to Shiloh, nor placed with the tabernacle any where else. This disregard to the Levitical institutions showed that their typical meaning formed their chief use; and when that was overlooked, they became a lifeless service, not to be compared with repentance, faith, and the love of God and man.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Sm 6:3-4
• [b]. Dt 6:5; 30:10
• [c]. Ex 20:3
• [d]. Lit you and set your hearts on
• [e]. Jdg 2:13
• [f]. 1 Sm 12:23
• [g]. 1 Sm 2:10; 2 Sm 22:14
• [h]. Ex 23:27; Jos 10:10; Jdg 4:15
• [i]. Jos 4:9
• [j]. Stone of Help
• [k]. LXX reads The Lord humbled the Philistines and they

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 7

This chapter gives an account of the ark being brought to Kirjathjearim, where it continued twenty years, 1Sa 7:1,2 of the exhortation of Samuel to the people of Israel to reform from idolatry, and which had its desired effect, 1Sa 7:3,4 of Samuel's praying for the people, and offering sacrifices for them, and of the success thereof, victory over their enemies, 1Sa 7:5-14, and of his administration of justice to them, and constancy in it, 1Sa 7:15-17.