1 Samuel 7:16

16 and he hath gone from year to year, and gone round Beth-El, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel [in] all these places;

1 Samuel 7:16 Meaning and 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 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, 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 Abarbinel, for that was now destroyed; nor Kirjathjearim, where the ark was, for it would have been called by its name; but the same Bethel that was near to Ai, and not far from Shiloh, and was in the tribe of Benjamin, as all those places were. Gilgal was where the tabernacle, ark, and camp of Israel were first pitched, when they came over Jordan, and Mizpeh where the people used to be assembled on occasion, see ( 1 Samuel 7:5 1 Samuel 7:6 ) ,

and judged Israel in all those places;
who came from all parts hither with their causes, and for advice and counsel in all cases, at the returning periods.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hnvb hnv ydm) "ex anno in anno".
F19 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 3. sect. 1.

1 Samuel 7:16 In-Context

14 And the cities which the Philistines have taken from Israel are restored to Israel -- from Ekron even unto Gath -- and their border hath Israel delivered out of the hand of the Philistines; and there is peace between Israel and the Amorite.

15 And Samuel judgeth Israel all the days of his life,

16 and he hath gone from year to year, and gone round Beth-El, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel [in] all these places;

17 and his returning [is] to Ramath, for there [is] his house, and there he hath judged Israel, and he buildeth there an altar to Jehovah.