_A.M. 2839. B.C. 1165._ Hannah's song of thanksgiving, 1 Samuel 2:1. Elkanah leaves Samuel to minister before the Lord, 1 Samuel 2:11. The wickedness of Eli's sons, 1 Samuel 2:12. A further account of Samuel and his parents, 1 Samuel 2:18. Eli's too mild reproof of his sons, 1 Samuel 2:22. Samuel's... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hannah prayed_ That is, praised God. Hymns of praise are frequently comprehended under the name of _prayers._ To utter this hymn Hannah was raised by divine inspiration, while she was engaged in devout meditation on the extraordinary goodness of God to her. _My heart rejoiceth_ Or, leapeth for joy;... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is none holy as the Lord_ None so perfectly, unchangeably, and constantly holy. _None besides_ 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Talk no more_ Thou Peninnah, boast no more of thy numerous offspring, 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. _A God of knowledge_ He knoweth thy heart, and all that pride, and envy, and contempt of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The bows of the mighty are broken_ The strength of which they boasted. _They that stumbled_ Or, were weak and feeble. The great sense she had of God's power, branches out itself into an humble acknowledgment of this glorious attribute, in divers instances. And, first, in vanquishing the most victor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have hired themselves out for bread_ They that formerly lived in affluence have been so reduced as to be obliged to labour hard for daily bread. _They that were hungry ceased_ That is, ceased to suffer hunger, or to complain of it. This vicissitude of human affairs, especially the sudden turns whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord killeth and maketh alive_ The power of life and death is in the hands of God; whom he pleaseth he takes out of the world, and whom he pleaseth, he preserves in it; raising men even from the brink of the grave, when they are ready to drop into it. _The Lord maketh poor,_ &c. Here she acknow... [ Continue Reading ]
_He raiseth up the poor out of the dust_, &c. From the most mean estate and sordid place. _To set them among princes_ Instance Joseph, David, and Daniel. _To make them inherit the throne of glory_ That is, a glorious throne or kingdom; not only to possess it themselves, but to transmit it to their p... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will keep the feet of his saints_ That is, will both uphold their steps or paths, and direct their counsels and actions, that they may not fall into ruin, nor wander into those fatal errors into which wicked men daily run. _The wicked shall be silent in darkness_ They who used to open their mout... [ Continue Reading ]
_The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces_ Here we have an instance of pious affections rising up, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, to the height of prophecy. Here Hannah begins to predict the deliverance of the Israelites from the hand of the Philistines, and their other enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The child did minister unto the Lord_ As soon as he was capable, and in a way agreeable to his tender years, as in lighting the lamps, or in singing and playing on instruments of music. _Before Eli the priest_ That is, under the inspection and by the direction of Eli. _The sons of Eli were sons of... [ Continue Reading ]
_When any man offered sacrifice_ Brought his peace-offerings to be offered at the altar. _While the flesh was in seething_ Or boiling. As the Lord's part of the peace-offerings was burned upon the altar, so the priests' and offerers' parts were to be boiled. And when the temple was built, there were... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that the flesh-hook brought up_, &c. This was a new custom, which they had profanely introduced. For, not content with the breast and right shoulder, allowed them by God, they took also part of the offerers' share; besides which, they snatched their part before it was heaved and waved, contrary... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nay, but thou shalt give it me now_, &c. This was the very height of haughty impiety. That such submissive language did not prevail with them to have so much respect for God, as to permit his portion to be presented to him in the first place, especially as they offered to the priest more than his s... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Samuel ministered before the Lord_ Though he was very young, yet he carefully and faithfully performed such offices in God's tabernacle as he was capable of discharging, and did not follow the bad example of others. _Girded with a linen ephod_ A garment used in God's service, and allowed, not o... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother made him a little coat_ The ephod, being used only in the service of God, was no doubt provided at the public expense. But for his ordinary wearing apparel Hannah took care to provide, that she might still express her piety in contributing to his maintenance at the house of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eli blessed Elkanah_, &c. This benediction given in his character of high-priest, and that by a divine suggestion, was followed by the desired effect, and verified what Hannah had uttered in her prophetical song. _The Lord visited Hannah_ None are losers by what they dedicate to the Lord, or employ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Eli was 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. _All that his sons did to Israel_ Whom they injured in their offerings, and alienated from the service of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, Why do ye_ do _such things?_ He reproved them, but far too gently, as these and the following words manifest. This might proceed partly from the coldness of old age, but it arose chiefly from his too great indulgence to his children. _I hear of your evil dealings by all this people_ Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_If one man sin against another_, &c. If only man be wronged, man can set the matter right, and reconcile the persons. _If a man sin against the Lord_ As you have done, wilfully and presumptuously; _who shall entreat for him?_ The offence is of so high a nature that few or none will dare to interced... [ Continue Reading ]
_There came a man of God unto Eli_ That is, a prophet, sent from God to deliver the following message to him: _Did I plainly appear_ Hebrew, _Manifestly reveal myself unto the spouse of thy father _ Unto Aaron, who was the head of the family of the priests. It is the way of the prophets, when they c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore kick ye_, &c. Using my sacrifices 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; choosing... [ 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. _Should walk before me_ That is, minister unto me as high-priest. _Walking_ is often put for discharging one's office; _before me_, may signify that he w... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will cut off thine arm_ I will take away thy strength, or all that in which thou placest thy confidence. This threatening was fulfilled, when the ark, which is called God's strength, (Psalms 78:61,) and was Eli's strength, was delivered into the hands of the Philistines; and more especially when... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt see an enemy_, &c. The words may be rendered, as in the margin, and seem evidently to mean, 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 _God's habitation_ by way of emi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The man of thine_ That is, of thy posterity. _Shall be to grieve thy heart_ 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. _The increase of thy house_ That is, thy childr... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will raise me up a faithful priest_ Of another line, as is 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 Abiathar, the last of Eli's line, was deposed by Solomon, was made... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every one that is left in thy house_ That remains of thy family, not being cut off; _shall crouch to him for a piece of silver_, &c. Shall humble himself to Zadok, or the high-priests of his line, begging a small relief in the great poverty to which he shall be reduced. _Put me, I pray thee, into o... [ Continue Reading ]