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| 1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. |
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| 2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. |
Kirjath-jearim – Between Jaffa and Jerusalem in the Wady Ali. R1381:5
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| 3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will 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 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
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Baalim – Plural for Baal, meaning "Overseer" or "Caretaker." R5627:2
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| 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. |
Mizpeh – Watchtower. R3218:2
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| 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children 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 when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. |
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| 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will 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 took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard 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 as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were 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 went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. |
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| 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. |
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| 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
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| 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. |
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| 15 And Samuel judged 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 went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. |
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| 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. |
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