1 Samuel7
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 And the of and took the of the Lord and it to the of on the . And they his to have of the of the Lord.
2 the that the was at , a passed, some , and the of the Lord.
3 And to the of , you are to the Lord with your , then put the and the from you and your to the Lord and him , and he will you out of the of the .
4 So the of put the and the , and they the Lord .
5 Then , at , and I will to the Lord for you.
6 So they at and and the Lord and on that and , We have against the Lord. And the of at .
7 Now when the the of had at , the of the against . And when the of of it, they were the .
8 And the of to , Do to cry to the Lord our for us, that he may us from the of the .
9 So and it as a to the Lord. And to the Lord for , and the Lord him.
10 As was the , the drew to . But the Lord with a that the and threw them into , and they were .
11 And the of from and the and them, as .
12 Then and and and its ; for he , the Lord has us.
13 So the were and did the of . And the of the Lord was against the the of .
14 The the had from were to , , and their the of the . There was also the .
15 the of his .
16 And he on a by to , , and . And he in .
17 Then he would to , his was , and also he . And he an to the Lord.
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1 Samuel 7Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 7. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The ark removed to Kirjath-jearim. (1–4). The Israelites solemnly repent. (5, 6). The Lord discomfits the Philistines. (7–12). They are subdued, Samuel judges Israel. (13–17).
vv1-4
God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them, the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive it. It is no new thing for God's ark to be in a private house. Christ and his apostles preached from house to house, when they could not have public places. Twenty years passed before the house of Israel cared for the want of the ark. During this time the prophet Samuel laboured to revive true religion. The few words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most effectual revivals of religion which ever took place in Israel.
vv5-6
Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord; signifying their humiliation and sorrow for sin. They pour out their hearts in repentance before the Lord. They were free and full in their confession, and fixed in their resolution to cast away from them all their wrong doings. They made a public confession, We have sinned against the Lord; thus giving glory to God, and taking shame to themselves. And if we thus confess our sins, we shall find our God faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
vv7-12
The Philistines invaded Israel. When sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect that Satan will muster all his force against them, and set his instruments at work to the utmost, to oppose and discourage them. The Israelites earnestly beg Samuel to pray for them. Oh what a comfort it is to all believers, that our great Intercessor above never ceases, is never silent! for he always appears in the presence of God for us. Samuel's sacrifice, without his prayer, had been an empty shadow. God gave a gracious answer. And Samuel erected a memorial of this victory, to the glory of God, and to encourage Israel. Through successive generations, the church of God has had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed against her, because “hitherto the Lord hath helped her:” and he will help, even to the end of the world.
Key Words
אֱנוֹשׁ: a man in general (singly or collectively)
קִרְיַת יְעָרִים: Kirjath-Jearim or Kirjath-Arim, a place in Palestine
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
אָרוֹן: a box
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲבִינָדָב: Abinadab, the name of four Israelites
גִּבְעָה: a hillock
קָדַשׁ: to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Cross References
1 Samuel 7Samuel's miraculous answer from God via thunder parallels his later calling for thunder in chapter 12.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills Hannah's prophetic song that the Lord will thunder out of heaven upon His adversaries.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Traces the continuation of the ark's stay in Kirjath-jearim until David's eventual removal of it.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly highlights Samuel's famous intercessory role alongside Moses as a powerful, crying advocate.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Eben-ezer, the site of previous crushing defeat, is now consecrated as the monument of glorious victory.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Kirjath-jearim under its alternative ancient names of Kirjath-baal or Baalah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct geographical link explaining why the men of Kirjath-jearim were summoned to fetch the ark.
Supported by JFB
The specific false gods, Baalim and Ashtaroth, are the same ones Israel repeatedly served in Judges.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob's similar command to put away strange gods before returning to Bethel to seek the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mizpah as the traditional, historical location for national assemblies of Israel in times of crisis.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Names Samuel among those who call upon God's name and whom He faithfully answered.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces Samuel's lifelong, unceasing priestly commitment to pray for the people of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The metaphorical idiom of 'water spilt on the ground' illuminating Israel's symbolic pouring of water.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Israel's fear of approaching enemies parallels the Red Sea crisis, prompting urgent cries to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry