1Samuel 7:1 ¶ 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.
1Samuel 7:2 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.
Continuing directly in context from the previous chapter…
The men of Kirjathjearim came and took the ark of the LORD to the house of Abinadab in the hill; I assume he lived on the high ground of Kirjathjearim. They appointed Eleazar his son to protect the ark. The ark remained there for 20 years before the house of Israel lamented or groaned after the LORD, indicating that they had a desire for restored fellowship.
I know the ark was there a lot longer than 20 years because it was David that finally brought it from the house of Abinadab to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6:2–4 “And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah….”
Easton defines Kirjathjearim as “a Gibeonite town,” a town of Gibeah.
1Samuel 7:3 ¶ 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.
1Samuel 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
Samuel spoke up and told the people that if they wanted restored fellowship with the LORD, they would have to get rid of their false gods and goddesses and “prepare their hearts” to serve the LORD. I believe that is a reference to expressing sincere repentance and renewed commitment to serve the LORD in obedience. If they did this, the LORD would deliver them from the Philistines.
The people listened and did as Samuel told them.
1Samuel 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
1Samuel 7:6 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.
Samuel called for the people to gather at Mizpeh so that he could pray for them. Once they had gathered, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that same day. They acknowledged their sin against the LORD corporately and publicly. Samuel became the acknowledged judge of Israel at that time.
I don’t remember reading about pouring out water before the LORD. Clarke offers the following possible explanation: “Perhaps the drawing and pouring out of water mentioned in the text was done emblematically, to represent the contrition of their hearts.” He made the comparison to Hannah pouring out her soul before the LORD.
1 Samuel 1:15 “And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”
Guzik includes a note credited to Trapp: “The Chaldean translation of this passage gives this sense well: ‘They poured out their hearts like water in penance before the Lord.’ ‘They seemed to say in effect, We could wish to shed as many tears for our sins as there are drops of water in this bucket; but because we cannot do this, behold, we do what we can.’”
1Samuel 7:7 ¶ 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.
1Samuel 7:8 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.
1Samuel 7:9 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.
1Samuel 7:10 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.
1Samuel 7:11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
1Samuel 7:12 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.
The lords of the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpeh and decided to make a preemptive attack against any uprising. The people of Israel became frightened when they were told the news and urged Samuel to pray that the LORD would save them from the Philistines.
Samuel took a baby lamb and offered it as a burnt offering to the LORD and prayed for the people of Israel. The LORD heard him—implied, with the intent to answer that prayer. The Philistines got closer and prepared to fight the men of Israel as Samuel prayed over the burnt offering. The LORD manifested His presence with a great thunder causing the Philistines to panic and suffer defeat at the hands of Israel. They pursued the Philistines as far as Bethcar.
We don’t know how the LORD “thundered” against the Philistines, but I am reminded of the words of the psalmist. All God has to do is speak to accomplish His purposes.
Psalms 29:3–9 “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.”
Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpeh and Shen and named it Ebenezer, “stone of help,” as a memorial to the LORD’s answer to their prayer.
Principle: To remember and be reminded of the many times that God answers our prayers and acts on our behalf encourages and strengthens our faith and enables us to comfort and encourage others.
Psalms 77:1–14 “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted….I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.”
Psalms 105:4–5 “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth….”
Isaiah 46:9–10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure….”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
1Samuel 7:13 ¶ 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.
1Samuel 7:14 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.
The Philistines were defeated and didn’t bother Israel throughout the rest of the days of Samuel. The cities that the Philistines had taken were restored to Israel, all the territory from Ekron to Gath.
There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. I would assume the news of their rout of the Philistines facilitated that peace.
1Samuel 7:15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
1Samuel 7:16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
1Samuel 7:17 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.
Samuel judged Israel for the rest of his life. He traveled a circuit each year making himself available to the people; he spent time in Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh. The rest of his time was spent at his home in Ramah where he built an altar to the LORD.
Clarke offers the following insight: “When he was at Beth-el, the tribe of Ephraim, and all the northern parts of the country, could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin, and those beyond Jordan, might have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad….”
1Samuel 8:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
1Samuel 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1Samuel 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
The narrative fast-forwards to closer to the end of Samuel’s life. He is getting old and has appointed his sons as judges over Israel—Joel and Abiah. These two sons were sent to serve in Beersheba in the south. They were total opposites of their dad. They did not follow his example and were known for taking bribes to enrich themselves, perverting justice in the process.
It seems that just as with Eli, Samuel exerted no control over his sons after establishing them in positions of authority.
1Samuel 8:4 ¶ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Samuel 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Samuel 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
The older men of Israel gathered together to confront Samuel in Ramah about the actions of his sons. They noted that he was now old and that his sons did not have the same character and morals as their father. They demanded that Samuel give them a king to be their judge, just like they had in other nations.
Guzik makes a good observation: “There was a difference between a king and a judge. A judge was a leader raised up by God, usually to meet a specific need in a time of crisis. When the crisis was over usually the judge went back to doing what he did before. A king not only held his office as king as long as he lived, he also passed his throne down to his descendants. Judges did not make a ‘government.’ They met a specific need in a time of crisis. Kings establish a standing government with a bureaucracy, which can be both a blessing and a curse to any people.
The demand for a king really displeased Samuel, so he went to the LORD in prayer. He didn’t react in the flesh; he sought the LORD’s guidance.
1Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
1Samuel 8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
1Samuel 8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
The LORD told Samuel that he should give the people what they wanted. He told them that the people weren’t rejecting Samuel’s leadership; they were rejecting His. Though they identified the wicked actions of Samuel’s sons as the reason for their demand, they were actually acting no differently themselves. Both Samuel’s sons and the people were living in accordance to their own judgment without consideration of God’s law or His will for them. The LORD told Samuel to give them a king; however, he was to warn them how the establishment of a king would affect them personally.
It should be noted that this request for a king did not surprise the LORD. I remember from my study of Deuteronomy that He had already given instruction for when this time came.
Deuteronomy 17:14–15 “When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.”
1Samuel 8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
1Samuel 8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
1Samuel 8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
1Samuel 8:13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
1Samuel 8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
1Samuel 8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
1Samuel 8:16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
1Samuel 8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
Samuel did as the LORD told him and warned them of the consequences of establishing a king.
He would commandeer their sons to work for him to take care of his chariots and horses and serve as bodyguards as they ran before him.
He would draft their sons into his army and appoint some of them as captains and officers.
He would commandeer some to plant, plow and gather the harvest.
He would appoint some to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
He would take their daughters and make them perfumers (from the Hebrew), cooks and bakers. The IVP Old Testament Commentary offers the following insight: “Perfumers performed a number of different duties at the court. The king’s garments were regularly perfumed, and spices were burnt in order to maintain a pleasing aroma around the palace. Additionally some spices were recognized as having medicinal value, in which case the perfumer might be performing the task of pharmacist.”
He would claim the best of their fields, vineyards and olive yards and give them to his servants.
He would take a tenth of their seed and vineyards and give them to his officers and servants.
He would take their male and female servants, their best young men and their donkeys and make them work for him.
He would take a tenth of their sheep.
Everyone would be required to serve the king.
Though serving under different titles—king, president, prime minister, czar, etc.—these warnings are true of all still today. Though carried out in different ways, in essence their tyranny is the same. The rights of the people are abused to provide according to the rule and will of the established leader.
1Samuel 8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
1Samuel 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
1Samuel 8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Samuel warned that they would end up crying out for help from the LORD because of the tyranny of their king, but the LORD would refuse to hear them when they did. The people seemed to disregard everything Samuel said or just didn’t believe him. They insisted that they wanted a king like all the other nations, a king that would serve as their judge and protector, a king that would lead them as needed in battle.
The people of Israel wanted to “be like all the nations.” Peer pressure and “keeping up with the Joneses” are other examples of this warped mentality that almost always have a negative impact. The LORD wants His people to stand out as different; we should strive to be like Jesus.
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:”
1 John 2:1–5 “….And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous….And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”
1Samuel 8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
1Samuel 8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
Samuel listened to all that the people said and told the LORD everything. The LORD told Samuel to give them a king. So Samuel told the men to go home—implied, and I will do what you ask.