CHAPTER III _Samuel ministers to the Lord before Eli,_ 1. _He is thrice called by the Lord; who informs him of the evils_ _which shall be brought on the house of Eli_, 2-15. _Eli inquires of Samuel what the Lord had said_, 16, 17. _He gives a faithful reunion of the whole, which Eli receives_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:2. _ELI WAS LAID DOWN IN HIS PLACE_] It is very likely that as the ark was a long time at Shiloh, they had built near to it certain apartments for the high priest and others more immediately employed about the tabernacle. In one of these, near to that of Eli, perhaps under the same... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:3. _ERE THE LAMP OF GOD WENT OUT_] Before sunrise; for it is likely that the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun. See Exodus 27:21; Leviticus 24:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:4. _THE LORD CALLED SAMUEL_] The voice probably came from the holy place, near to which Eli and Samuel were both lying.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:7. _SAMUEL DID NOT YET KNOW THE LORD_] He had not been accustomed to receive any revelation from him. He _knew_ and _worshipped_ the God of Israel; but he did not know him as communicating especial revelation of His will.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:9. _SPEAK, LORD; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH_] This was the usual way in which the prophets spoke, when they had intimations that the Lord was about to make some especial revelation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:10. _THE LORD CANE, AND STOOD_] He heard the voice as if it was approaching nearer and nearer; till at last, from the sameness of the tone, he could imagine that it ceased to approach: and this is what appears to be represented under the notion of God _standing_ and calling.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:11. _THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL_] He probably saw nothing, and only heard the _voice_; for it was not likely that any extraordinary _representation_ could have been made to the _eyes_ of a person so young. He heard a _voice_, but saw no _similitude_. _THE EARS - SHALL TINGLE._] It sha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:12. _I WILL PERFORM - ALL THINGS WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN_] That is, what He had declared by the prophet, whose message is related 1 Samuel 2:27, c. _WHEN I BEGIN, I WILL ALSO MAKE AN END._] I will not delay the execution of my purpose: when I begin, nothing shall deter me from bringing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:13. _I WILL JUDGE HIS HOUSE FOR EVER_] I will continue to execute judgments upon it till it is destroyed. _HIS SONS MADE THEMSELVES VILE_] See 1 Samuel 2:12-9; 1 Samuel 2:22-9. _HE RESTRAINED THEM NOT._] He did not use his parental and juridical authority to curb them, and prevent... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:14. _SHALL NOT BE PURGED WITH SACRIFICE NOR OFFERING_] That is, God was determined that they should be removed by a violent death. They had committed the _sin unto death_; and no _offering_ or _sacrifice_ could prevent this. What is spoken here relates to their _temporal death_ only... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:15. _SAMUEL FEARED TO SHOW ELI_] He reverenced him as a father, and he feared to distress him by showing what the Lord had purposed to do. It does not appear that God had commanded Samuel to deliver this message: he, therefore, did not attempt it till adjured by Eli, 1 Samuel 3:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:17. _GOD DO SO TO THEE, AND MORE ALSO_] This was a very solemn adjuration: he suspected that God had threatened severe judgments, for he knew that his house was very criminal; and he wished to know what God had spoken. The words imply thus much: If thou do not tell me fully what God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:18. _SAMUEL TOLD HIM EVERY WHIT_] Our word _whit_, or _wid_, comes from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.], which signifies _person, thing_, c. _every whit_ is _every thing_. The Hebrew את כל הדברים et col haddebarim, "all these words." _IT_ IS _THE LORD_] He is _Sovereign_, and will do what h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:19. _SAMUEL GREW_] Increased to manhood. _THE LORD WAS WITH HIM_] Teaching him, and filling him with grace and holiness. _NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL_] Whatever prediction he uttered, God fulfilled it; and his counsels were received as coming from the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:20. _ALL ISRAEL FROM DAN EVEN TO BEER-SHEBA_] Through the whole extent of Palestine; Dan being at the _northern_, Beer-sheba at the _southern_ extremity. WAS _ESTABLISHED_ TO BE _A PROPHET_] The word נאמן _neeman_, which we translate _established_, signifies _faithful: The faithful... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 3:21. _THE LORD APPEARED AGAIN_] וישף יהוה להראה _vaiyoseph_ _Yehovah leheraoh_, "And Jehovah _added_ to appear; " that is, he continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh. _BY THE WORD OF THE LORD._] By the _spirit_ and _word of prophecy_. IN this chapter we read again of the f... [ Continue Reading ]