1 Samuel 7:15

15 And Samuel deemed Israel all the days of his life, that is, till to the ordaining and confirming of Saul;

1 Samuel 7:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 7:15

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
] Not only before Saul was made king, but afterwards; for though he had not the exercise of the supreme government of the nation, yet he might act as a judge under Saul, and hear and try causes brought before him, and execute justice and judgment; and as a prophet he taught and instructed the people, and reformed abuses among them; and besides, he held and exercised his extraordinary office, to which he was raised up of God, and even took upon him to reprove Saul himself, and to kill Agag. The Jews say ^F17 he judged Israel thirteen years only, eleven by himself, and two with Saul; but his government must be much larger, his with Saul is reckoned forty years, ( Acts 13:21 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 13. p. 35. Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel in loc. Kimchi in loc.

1 Samuel 7:15 In-Context

13 And the Philistines were made low, and they added no more to come into the terms of Israel (And so the Philistines were humbled, and they did not come any more into the land of Israel). And so the hand of the Lord was made [up]on (the) Philistines in all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were yielded again to Israel, from Ekron unto Gath, and the coasts of Gath; and the Lord delivered Israel from the hand of (the) Philistines; and peace was betwixt Israel and Amorites (and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites).

15 And Samuel deemed Israel all the days of his life, that is, till to the ordaining and confirming of Saul;

16 and he went by each year, and compassed Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and he deemed Israel in the foresaid places.

17 And he turned again into Ramah, for his house was there; and he deemed Israel there, and he builded there also an altar to the Lord. (And then he returned to Ramah, for his house was there; and he judged Israel there, and he also built an altar there to the Lord.)