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"both sides, meet for the necks of them 庭 "that take the spoil? 31. So let all "thine enemies perish, O LORD: but

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CHAP. II.

"let them that love him (e), be as the

"sun when he goeth forth in his might." And the land had rest forty years.

I. SAMUEL.

AND (g) Hannah (h) prayed, and said, "My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine "horn is exalted in the LORD: my "mouth is enlarged over mine enemies: "because I rejoice in thy salvation. "2. There is none holy as the LORD: for "(i) there is none beside thee: neither "is there any rock like our God. 3. Talk "no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: "for the LORD is a God of knowledge, "and by him actions are weighed. "4. The bows of the mighty men are "broken, and they that stumbled are "girt with strength. 5. They that were "full, have hired out themselves for "bread, and they that were hungry, "ceased (k): so that the barren hath "born seven; and she that hath many "children is waxed (1) feeble. 6. The

pectation of Sisera's house, finely ridiculing their confidence and impatience.

(e) v.31. "Him," or " thee." 2 Hales, 308. (g) v. 1 to 10. Hannah's thanksgiving for Samuel's birth. B. C. 1165.

(h)

"Hannah," i. e. Samuel's mother. (1) v. 2. "For, &c." or, there is none beside thee; there is no Rock like our God.

(k) v. 5. "Ceased," i. e. " to hunger," or "exulted," "were filled." She is contrasting the changes God effects by depressing the great, and raising up the poor. Like the passage in Mary's thanksgiving, (Luke i. 53.)" He hath filled the hungry "with good things, and the rich he hath "sent empty away."

(l) v. 5. "Waxed feeble," i.e. "brought "low," " dispirited," "as much broken "hearted as if she had no child."

(m) v. 6. "Killeth, &c." so Deut. xxxii. 39. "See now that I, even I, am he, and "there is no God with (or like) me: I kill, "and I make alive; I wound and I heal; "neither is there any that can deliver out " of my hand."

(n) "Bringeth," or "raiseth."

(o) v.8. "The poor, &c." So Psalm cxiii. 7, 8.

"LORD killeth (m), and maketh alive: "he bringeth down to the grave, and "bringeth (n) up. 7. The LORD mak"eth poor, and maketh rich: he bring"eth low, and lifteth up. 8. He raiseth

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up the (0) poor out of the dust, and "lifteth up the beggar from the dung"hill, to set them among princes, and to "make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the "LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 9. He will keep (p) the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall "be silent in darkness; for by strength "shall no man prevail. 10. The ad"versaries of the LORD shall be broken "to pieces; out of heaven shall he "thunder upon them: the LORD shall

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(q) v. 10. "His king" and his "anointed," looking forward probably to the Messiah. There was as yet no king in Israel. 2 Hales, 332. The Messiah might, even then, be well an object of expectation from Jacob's prophecy, (Gen. xlix. 10.) "The sceptre shall "not depart from Judah, &c." ante, 540. and from that of Balaam, Numb. xxiv. 17. ante, 540." I shall see him, but not now, "&c." Dr. Gray observes upon this passage, "The inspired hymn of Hannah "furnishes us with a grand prophecy of "Christ, who is here for the first time in "scripture described as the Messiah, or "the anointed of the Lord, as the exalted "Sovereign, and appointed Judge of the "earth. Gray 174."

(r)" Anointed," in the Hebrew "Mes"siah," in the Greek "Christ."

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11. And Elkanah (s) went to Ramah to his house and the child (s) did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. 12. Now the sons of Eli were sons (t) of Belial (t), they knew (u) not the LORD. 13. And the priest's custom (a) with the people was, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething (y), with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand: 14. And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up, the priest took for himself: so they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15. Also before they burnt the (z) fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, "Give flesh to "roast for the priest; for he will not "have sodden (a) flesh of thee, but raw." 16. And if any man said unto him, "Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy "soul desireth :" then he would answer him, "Nay, but thou shalt give it me now and if not, I will take it by "force." 17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. 18. But Samuel ministred before the LORD, being a child girded with a linen (b) ephod. 19. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to

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(s) v. 11. "Elkanah," "Samuel's father." “The child,” i. e. “Samuel.”

(t) v. 12. "Sons of Belial," i. e "wicked.” "Belial," "wickedness."

(u)" Knew," i. e. "regarded," "rever"enced."

(x) v. 13. "Custom." This was contrary to the Levitical law: the parts the priest was to have were fixed. See Lev. vii. 34.

(y)" Seething," i. e. " boiling."

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(z) v. 15. "The fat." It was one of the Mosaical ordinances, that the fat of every sacrifice should be burnt upon the altar. Lev. i. 9. 13. iii. 4, 5. 9. 11. 15, 16. iv. 8. 10. 19. 26. 31. 35.· vii. 3. 5. 31. And it was a special injunction, Lev. vii. 23. Speak unto the children of Israel, say"ing, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, "or of sheep, or of goat."

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(a Sodden," i. e. "boiled."

offer the yearly sacrifice. 20. And Eli blessed Elkanah, and his wife, and said, "The LORD give thee seed of this wo

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man for (c) the loan which is lent "to the LORD." And they went unto their own home. 21. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bare three sons, and two daughters: and the child Samuel grew before the LORD. 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23. And he said unto them, "Why do ye such things? "for I hear of your evil dealings, by all "this people. 24. Nay my sons, for it "is no good report that I hear; ye "make the LORD's people to transgress. "25. If one man sin against another, "the judge shall judge him: but if a "man sin against the LORD, who shall "intreat for him?" Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 26. (And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.) 27. And there came a man (d) of God unto Eli, and said unto him, "Thus saith the "LORD, “Did I plainly appear unto "the house of thy (e) father, when they

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were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? "28. And did I choose him (g) out of "all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest,

(b) v. 18. “Ephod." One of the holy garments made for Aaron, that he might minister unto God in the priest's office. Exod. xxviii. 4.

(c) v. 20. "The loan," i. e. "Samuel." Hannah says, 1 Sam. i. 27, 28. “For this "child I prayed; and the Lord hath "given me my petition which I asked of "him therefore also I have lent him to "the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall "be lent unto the Lord."

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mine altar, to burn inupon cense, to wear an ephod before me? "and did I give unto the house of thy "father all the offerings made by fire of "the children of Israel? 29. Where

"fore kick ye at my sacrifice and at "mine offering, which I have com"manded in my habitation; and ho"nourest thy sons above me, to make "yourselves fat with the chiefest of all "the offerings of Israel my people?” 30. "Wherefore the LORD God of Israel "saith, "I said indeed that thy house,

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ever.

"me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine "heart and in my mind: and I will "build (1) him a sure house; and he "shall walk before mine Anointed for 36. And it shall come to pass, "that every one that is left in thine "house shall come and crouch to him "for a piece of silver and a morsel of "bread, and shall say, " Put me (I pray "thee) into one of the priests' offices, "that I may eat a piece of bread."

CHAP. III.

" and the house of thy father should AND the child Samuel ministered unto

"walk before me for ever:" but now "the LORD saith, "Be it far from me; "for them that honour me, I will ho"nour, and they that despise me, shall "be lightly esteemed. 31. Behold, the "days come that I will cut off thine 66 arm (h), and the arm of thy father's "house, that there shall not be an old 66 man in thine house. 32. And thou "shalt see an (i) enemy in my habitation, "in all the wealth which God shall give "Israel: and there shall not be an old "man in thine house for ever. 33. And "the man of thine whom I shall not "cut off from mine altar, shall be to

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consume thine eyes, and to grieve "thine heart: and all the increase of "thine house shall die in the flower of "their age. 34. And this shall be a "sign unto thee, that shall come upon "thy two sons, on Hophni and Phiin one (k) day they shall die neas; "both of them. 35. And I will raise

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(h) v. 31. "Arm," i. e. " strength."

(i) v. 32. "An enemy, &c." or "distress, "because of thy iniquity, in every thing "wherein the strength of Israel hath "blessed thee;" alluding probably to the capture of the ark by the Philistines which occurred shortly afterwards, and caused his death. See 1 Sam. iv. 17, 18.

(k) v. 34. "In one day, &c." This happened accordingly in the war against the Philistines, 1 Sam. iv. 11. "The ark of "God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, "Hophni and Phineas, were slain.”

(4) v. 35. "Build, &c." i. e. "continue "his seed after him." This is often called See Exod. i. 21. “building a house." Deut. xxv. 9.-Ruth iv. 7.-Ps. cxxvii. 1.

(m) v. 1. "Precious," i. e. "uncommon,

not see;

the LORD before Eli; and the word of the LORD was precious (m) in those days; there was no open (n) vision. 2. And it came to pass at that (o) time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could 3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the (p) temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4. That the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here am I." 5. And he ran unto Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou "calledst me." And he said, "I called "not; lie down again." And he went and lay down. 6. And the LORD called yet again Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, "for thou didst call me." And he answered, "I called not my son, lie down again" 7. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD (q), neither was the

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"not frequent." God made but few communications.

(n) "No open vision," i. e. probably, "no visible manifestation of his presence,' as there was in the wilderness, when the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle: Exod. xl. 35. and in later times, when an angel of the Lord occasionally appeared, as to Gideon, Judges vi. 11. and to Manoah and his wife, Judges xviii. 1. 9. And see post, verse 21.

(o) v. 2." At that time." B. C. 1141. (p) v.3. "Temple," rather "tabernacle." There was no temple at that time.

(g) v. 7." The Lord, i. e. " the voice of "the Lord." "God had not been in the "habit of speaking to him. Pearson on the "Creed, 7."

word () of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose, and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I, "for thou didst call me." And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel," Go, lie down and it shall be, "if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant hear"eth." So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel answered, "Speak; for thy servant hear"eth." 11. And the LORD said to Samuel," Behold, I will do a thing in "Israel, at which both the ears of every "one that heareth it shall tingle. 12. In "that day I will perform against Eli all "things which I have spoken concern

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14. And therefore I have sworn "unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity "of Eli's house shall not be purged "with sacrifice nor offering for ever." 15. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 16. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son." And he answered, "Here am I." 17. And he said, "What is the thing that the LORD hath "said unto thee? I pray thee hide it "not from me: God do so to thee, and "more also, if thou hide any thing from

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me of all the things that he said unto "thee." 18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD: let him "do what seemeth him good." 19. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with

(r) v. 7. "Word," or "speech, voice." (s) v. 20. "From Dan, &c." i.e." through

" out the whole of the land of Israel."

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him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20. And all Israel from (s) Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21. And the LORD appeared (t) again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

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CHAP. XII.

AND Samuel (u) said unto all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened unto your "voice in all that ye said unto me, "and have made a (x) king over you. "2. And now behold, the king walketh "before you and I am old, and gray"headed, and behold my (y) sons are "with you and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. "3. Behold, here I am, witness against 66 me before the LORD, and before his "anointed: whose ox have I taken? or "whose ass have I taken? or whom "have I defrauded? whom have I op"pressed? or of whose hand have 1 "received any bribe to blind mine eyes "therewith? and I will restore it you." 4. And they said, "Thou hast not de"frauded us, nor oppressed us, neither "hast thou taken ought of any man's "hand." 5. And he said unto them, "The LORD is witness against you, "his anointed is witness this day, that "ye have not found ought in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness." 6. And Samuel said unto the people, "It is the LORD that advanced Moses "and Aaron, and that brought your "fathers up out of the land of Egypt "7. Now therefore stand still, that I

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and

may reason with you before the LORD, "of all the righteous acts of the LORD, "which he did to you and to your fa"thers. 8. When Jacob was come into

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Egypt, and your fathers cried unto "the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses "and Aaron, which brought forth your

(x) "A king," i. e. "Saul."

(y) v. 2. "My sons are with you;" so that you may punish them when they transgress. transgress." His sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and "took bribes, and perverted judgment. "1 Sam. viii. 3."

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"fathers out of Egypt, and made them "dwell in this place. 9. And when "they forgat the LORD their God, he "sold them into the hand of Sisera,

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❝ unto me,

ye

captain of the host of Hazor, and into "the hand of the Philistines, and into "the hand of the king of Moab, and they "fought against them. 10. And they "cried unto the LORD, and said, “We "have sinned, because we have forsaken "the LORD, and have served Baalim (2) " and Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out "of the hand of our enemies, and we "will serve thee." 11. And the LORD "sent Jerubbaal (a) and Bedan (b), and "Jephthah, and Samuel (b), and deli"vered you out of the hand of your "enemies on every side, and dwelled "safe. 12. And when ye saw that "Nahash the king of the children of "Ammon came against you, ye said "Nay, but a king shall "reign over us;" when the LORD your "God was your king. 13. Now there"fore behold the king whom ye have "chosen, and whom ye have desired: "and behold the LORD hath set a king 16 over you. 14. If ye will fear the "LORD, and serve him, and obey his "voice, and not rebel against the com"mandment of the LORD, then shall "both ye, and also the king that reign"eth over you, continue (c) following "the LORD your God. 15. But if ye "will not obey the voice of the LORD, "but rebel against the commandment "of the LORD, then shall the hand of "the LORD be against you, as it was "against (d) your fathers. 16. Now "therefore stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before

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(a) v. 11." Jerubbaal," i. e. " Gideon." Judges vii. 1." Then Jerubbaal, who is "Gideon, &c."

(b) "Bedan" and "Samuel," or rather, "Barak" and "Sampson." Bedan is no where else mentioned as a deliverer of Israel; and it would have been strange for "Samuel" to have named himself. These persons are named together, Heb. xi. 32. "The time would fail me to tell of Gideon,

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your eyes. 17. Is it not wheat (e) "harvest to-day? I will call unto "the LORD, and he shall send thunder "and rain; that ye may perceive and "see that your wickedness is great, "which ye have done in the sight of "the LORD, in asking you a king." 18. So Samuel called unto the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19. And all the people said unto Samuel, "Pray "for thy servants unto the LORD thy "God, that we die not: for we have "added unto all our sins this evil, to "ask us a king." 20. And Samuel said unto the people, "Fear not: (ye "have done all this wickedness: yet "turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all

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your heart; 21. And turn ye not "aside: for then should ye go after vain "things, which cannot profit nor deli

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ver, for they are vain): 22. For "the LORD will not forsake his people, "for his great name's sake: because it "hath pleased the LORD to make you "his people. 23. Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin "against the LORD, in ceasing to pray "for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. 24. Only "fear the LORD, and serve him in "truth with all your heart: for consi"der how great things he hath done "for you. 25. But if ye shall still do "wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."

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CHAP. XIII.

SAUL reigned one year, and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

"and of Barak, and of Sampson. Kennic. "Rem. 103. 2. Hales, 338."

(c) v. 14. "Continue following," or rather, "be protected by;" literally, "be "behind." So that God will always be before you, to preserve you.

(d) v. 15. As it was against your fa"thers," or, "and against your king. Sept."

(e) v. 17. "Wheat harvest." A time of year, therefore, when there could be no expectation of rain. Their rains were periodical; only at stated times of the year.

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