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| 1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Jehovah, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and hallowed Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah. |
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| 2 And it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah.
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Kirjath-jearim – Between Jaffa and Jerusalem in the Wady Ali. R1381:5
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| 3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye return to Jehovah with all your heart, put away the strange gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and apply your hearts unto Jehovah, 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 And the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths and served Jehovah only. |
Baalim – Plural for Baal, meaning "Overseer" or "Caretaker." R5627:2
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| 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray Jehovah for you. |
Mizpeh – Watchtower. R3218:2
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| 6 And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Jehovah, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Jehovah. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah. |
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 heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah; and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel; and the children of Israel heard it, and were afraid of the Philistines. |
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| 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to Jehovah 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 as a whole burnt-offering to Jehovah; and Samuel cried to Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answered 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 advanced to battle against Israel. And Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were routed 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 Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Beth-car. |
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| 12 And Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, and said, Hitherto Jehovah has helped us. |
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| 13 And the Philistines were subdued, and came no more into the borders of Israel; and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
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| 14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and their territory did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorite. |
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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 Mizpah, 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 to Jehovah. |
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