1 Samuel 7:1-8

1 Therefore men of Kiriathjearim came, and led again the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. And they hallowed Eleazar his son, that he should keep the ark of the Lord. (And so some men of Kiriathjearim came, and took the Ark of the Lord, and they brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar, so that he could be in charge of the Ark of the Lord.)
2 And it was done, from which day the ark of the Lord dwelled in Kiriathjearim, (that the) days were multiplied; for the twentieth year was now, after that Samuel began to teach the people; and all Israel rested after the Lord (and all Israel cried out to the Lord for help).
3 And Samuel spake to all the house of Israel, and said, If in all your heart ye turn again to the Lord, do ye away alien gods (do ye away foreign, or other, gods), (the) Baalim, and (the) Ashtaroth, from the midst of you; and make ye ready your hearts to the Lord, and serve ye him alone; and (then) he shall deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.
4 Therefore the sons of Israel did away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord alone. (And so the Israelites did away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served the Lord alone.)
5 And Samuel said, Gather ye all Israel into Mizpah, that I pray the Lord for you (and I shall pray to the Lord for you).
6 And they came together into Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out in the Lord's sight; and they fasted in that day, and said, Lord, we have sinned to thee (and said, Lord, we have sinned against thee). And Samuel deemed the sons of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel were gathered together in Mizpeh; and the princes of Philistines went up to Israel. And when the sons of Israel had heard this, they dreaded of the face of (the) Philistines. (And the Philistines heard that the Israelites were gathered together in Mizpeh; and the princes of the Philistines came up against Israel. And when the Israelites had heard this, they feared to face the Philistines.)
8 And they said to Samuel/And Israel cried to Samuel, Cease thou not to cry for us to our Lord God, that he save us from the hand of Philistines. (And the Israelites cried to Samuel, Cease thou not to cry out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the hands of the Philistines.)

1 Samuel 7:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.