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| 1 And the men of Kirjath-Jearim come and bring up the ark of Jehovah, and bring it in unto the house of Abinadab, in the height, and Eleazar his son they have sanctified to keep the ark of Jehovah. |
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| 2 And it cometh to pass, from the day of the dwelling of the ark in Kirjath-Jearim, that the days are multiplied yea, they are twenty years and wail do all the house of Israel after Jehovah. |
Kirjath-jearim – Between Jaffa and Jerusalem in the Wady Ali. R1381:5
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| 3 And Samuel speaketh unto all the house of Israel, saying, 'If with all your heart ye are turning back unto Jehovah turn aside the gods of the stranger from your midst, and Ashtaroth; and prepare your heart unto Jehovah, and serve Him only, and He doth deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.' |
Ashtaroth – Plural for Ashtoreth, a female diety, goddess of fertility and sexual relations. R5627:3
Prepare your hearts – By making a consecration unto the Lord. R3713:1
He will deliver you – Samuel was warranted in so telling the people because this was God's standing agreement with them. R5627:2
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| 4 And the sons of Israel turn aside the Baalim and Ashtaroth, and serve Jehovah alone; |
Baalim – Plural for Baal, meaning "Overseer" or "Caretaker." R5627:2
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| 5 and Samuel saith, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I pray for you unto Jehovah.' |
Mizpeh – Watchtower. R3218:2
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| 6 And they are gathered to Mizpeh, and draw water, and pour out before Jehovah, and fast on that day, and say there, 'We have sinned against Jehovah;' and Samuel judgeth the sons of Israel in Mizpeh. |
Mizpeh – Not the Mizpah east of Jordan where Jacob covenanted with Laban. R1381:5
Drew water – As the water was drawn from the depth of the earth, so their confession came from the depths of their hearts. R5627:4
Poured it out – Representing their vows of faithfulness to the Lord, which would be as irrevocable as the water poured out. R5627:4
Representing the truth which they could not gainsay, could not take back, even as water spilled upon the ground cannot be recovered. R5627:4
We have sinned – Confession was appropriate when asking God to receive them back into covenant relationship. R5627:3
The humility necessary in making such confession was profitable in their character-building. R5627:4
Samuel judged – As a judge, a counselor, he gave advice, gave decisions in respect to their affairs, disputes, etc. R5627:5
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| 7 And the Philistines hear that the sons of Israel have gathered themselves to Mizpeh; and the princes of the Philistines go up against Israel, and the sons of Israel hear, and are afraid of the presence of the Philistines. |
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| 8 And the sons of Israel say unto Samuel, 'Keep not silent for us from crying unto Jehovah our God, and He doth save us out of the hand of the Philistines.' |
He will save us – They were learning to look for help in the right direction. R5627:5
It is vain for the Lord's people to call upon the Lord for assistance and blessing while they are living in sin, in violation of their covenant and its obligations. R5627:5
Philistines – Our Philistines are our passions and weaknesses, and the oppositions of the world and the Adversary. R5627:6
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| 9 And Samuel taketh a fat lamb, and causeth it to go up a burnt-offering whole to Jehovah; and Samuel crieth unto Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answereth him; |
A sucking lamb – A type of "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) R5627:6
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| 10 and Samuel is causing the burnt-offering to go up and the Philistines have drawn nigh to battle against Israel and Jehovah doth thunder with a great noise, on that day, upon the Philistines, and troubleth them, and they are smitten before Israel. |
They were smitten – As a result Samuel was recognized as the divine representative and judge of Israel. R4192:6
Before Israel – As God led, disciplined and delivered his ancient people, so now he bestows the same attentions upon his faithful Church. R1883:4
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| 11 And the men of Israel go out from Mizpeh, and pursue the Philistines, and smite them unto the place of Beth-Car. |
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| 12 And Samuel taketh a stone, and setteth [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and calleth its name Eben-Ezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.' |
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| 13 And the Philistines are humbled, and have not added any more to come into the border of Israel, and the hand of Jehovah is on the Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
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| 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. |
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| 15 And Samuel judgeth Israel all the days of his life, |
Days of his life – From God's standpoint; even though the people meantime did have a king. R1882:3
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| 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; |
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| 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. |
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