Prayed — That is, praised God; which is a part of prayer. Rejoiceth — Or, leapeth for joy: for the words note not only inward joy, but also the outward demonstrations of it. In the Lord — As the author of my joy, that he hath heard my prayer, and accepted my son for his service. Horn — My strength a... [ Continue Reading ]
None holy — None so perfectly, unchangeably and constantly holy. None beside — Not only none is so holy as thou art, but in truth there is none holy besides thee; namely, entirely, or independently, but only by participation from thee. Any rock — Thou only art a sure defence and refuge to all that f... [ Continue Reading ]
Talk no more — Thou Peninnah, boast no more of thy numerous off — spring, and speak no more insolently and scornfully of me. She speaks of her in the plural number, because she would not expose her name to censure. Of knowledge — He knoweth thy heart, and all that pride, and envy, and contempt of me... [ Continue Reading ]
Bows — The strength of which they boasted. Stumbled — Or, were weak, or feeble, in body and spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hired themselves out for bread — It is the same thing which is expressed both in divers metaphors in the foregoing, and following verses. Ceased — That is, ceased to be hungry. Seven — That is, many, as seven is often used. She speaks in the prophetick style, the past time, for the future; for thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
Killeth — The same person whom he first killeth, or bringeth nigh unto death, he afterwards raiseth to life. Me, who was almost consumed with grief, he hath revived. The name of death both in sacred scripture, and profane writers, is often given to great Calamities.... [ Continue Reading ]
From the dunghill — From the most sordid place, and mean estate. Inherit — Not only possess it themselves, but transmit it to their posterity. Throne — That is, a glorious throne or kingdom. Pillars — The foundations of the earth, which God created, and upholds, and wherewith he sustains the earth,... [ Continue Reading ]
Feet — That is, the steps or paths, their counsels and actions; he will keep; that is, both uphold, that they may not fall into ruin; and direct and preserve from wandering, and from those fatal errors that wicked men daily run into. Silent — Shall be put to silence: they who used to open their mout... [ Continue Reading ]
Exalt — Increase, or advance the strength. Of his anointed — Of his king. This may respect Christ, the singular anointed one of God, and the special king of his people. In this sense also, the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth: David's victories and dominions reached far. But God will give to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Minster — In some way agreeable to his tender years, as in singing, or playing upon instruments of musick, or lighting the lamps. Before Eli the priest — That is, under the inspection, and by the direction of Eli.... [ Continue Reading ]
Knew not — They did not honour, love, or serve God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Boiling — As the Lord's part of the peace — offerings was burnt upon the altar, so the priest's and offerer's parts were to be boiled.... [ Continue Reading ]
Took — Not contented with the breast and shoulder which were allotted them by God, they took also part of the offerer's share; besides which they snatched their part before it was heaved and waved; contrary to Leviticus 7:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fat — And the other parts to be burnt with it. So this was all additional injury; for they took such parts as they best liked whilst it was raw.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abhorred — But we know the validity and efficacy of the sacraments does not depend on the goodness of those that administer them. It was therefore folly and sin in the people, to think the worse of God's institutions. But it was the much greater sin of the priests, that gave them occasion so to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ministered — That is, performed his ministration carefully and faithfully. Before the Lord — In God's tabernacle. Ephod — A garment used in God's service, and allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though no Levit... [ Continue Reading ]
Grew — Not only in age and stature; but especially in wisdom and goodness. Before the Lord — Not only before men, who might he deceived, but in the presence and judgment of the all — seeing God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Very old — And therefore unfit either to manage his office himself, or to make a diligent inspection into the carriage of his sons, which gave them opportunity for their wickedness. To Israel — Whom they injured in their offerings, and alienated from the service of God. The door — The place where al... [ Continue Reading ]
He said, &c. — Eli's sin was not only that he reproved them too gently, but that he contented himself with a verbal rebuke, and did not restrain them, and inflict those punishments upon them which such high crimes deserved by God's law, and which he as judge and high — priest ought to have done, wit... [ Continue Reading ]
The judge — If only man be wronged, man can right it, and reconcile the persons. Against the Lord — As you have done wilfully and presumptuously. Who shall, &c. — The offence is of so high a nature, that few or none will dare to intercede for him, but will leave him to the just judgment of God. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Man of God — That is, a prophet sent from God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kick ye — Using them irreverently, and profanely; both by abusing them to your own luxury, and by causing the people to abhor them. He chargeth Eli with his sons faults. Honourest thy sons — Permitting them to dishonour and injure me, by taking my part to themselves; chusing rather to offend me by t... [ Continue Reading ]
I said — Where, or when did God say this? To Eli himself, or to his father, when the priesthood was translated from Eleazar's to Ithamar's family. Walk — That is, minister unto me as high — priest. Walking is often put for discharging ones office; before me; may signify that he was the high — priest... [ Continue Reading ]
Arm — That is, I will take away thy strength, or all that in which thou placest thy confidence, either, the ark, which is called God's strength, Psalms 78:61, and was Eli's strength, who therefore was not able to bear the very tidings of the loss of it. Or, his priestly dignity or employment, whence... [ Continue Reading ]
Shalt see, &c — The words may be rendered; thou shalt see, in thy own person, the affliction, or calamity of my habitation; that is, either of the land of Israel, wherein I dwell; or of the sanctuary, called the habitation by way of eminency, whose greatest glory the ark was, 1 Samuel 4:21, and cons... [ Continue Reading ]
Of thine — That is, of thy posterity. Shalt grieve — Shall be so forlorn and miserable, that if thou wast alive to see it, it would grieve thee at the heart, and thou wouldst consume thine eyes with weeping for their calamities. Increase — That is, thy children. Flower — About the thirtieth year of... [ Continue Reading ]
Raise a priest — Of another line, as it necessarily implied by the total removal of that office from Eli's line. The person designed is Zadok, one eminent for his faithfulness to God, and to the king, who, when Abiather, the last of Eli's line, was deposed by Solomon, was made high — priest in his s... [ Continue Reading ]