1 Samuel 1:1--4:22
The First Book of SAMUEL, otherwise called The First Book of the KINGS 1 Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh. 4 He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah. 9 Hannah in grief prays for a child. 12 Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her. 19 Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned. 24 She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord.
Ramathaim Zophim <07436> [Ramathaim-zophim.]
This ancient town, now called Ramla, is, according to Phocas, about thirty-six miles west of Jerusalem, and, according to modern travellers, about nine miles from Joppa and a league from Lydda, between which it is situated. It is built on a rising ground, on a rich plain, and contains about two thousand families.
[Arimathea. mount.]
Elkanah <0511> [Elkanah.]
Zuph <06689> [Zuph.]
Ephraimite <0673> [Ephrathite.]
two <08147> [two.]
Hannah ............... Hannah <02584> [but.]
<03117> [yearly. Heb. from year to year.]
worship <07812> [to worship.]
Shiloh <07887> [Shiloh.]
two <08147> [And the.]
sacrifice <02076> [offered.]
double portion <0259 0639 04490> [a worthy portion. or, a double portion.]
The Hebrew phrase, {manah achath appayim,} is correctly rendered by Gesenius, {ein Stud fur zwei personen, doppelle Portion,} "a portion for two persons, a double portion;" for {aph} in Hebrew, and [prosopon] in Greek, which literally mean a face, are used for a person.
loved <0157> [he loved.]
not enabled ... to have children <05462> [shut up.]
rival <06869> [adversary.]
upset ...... worry <03707 03708> [provoked her. Heb. angered her.]
year ... year <08141> [year.]
Whenever ... went up <01767 05927> [when she. or, from the time that she. Heb. from her going up.]
weep <01058> [why weepest.]
better <02896> [am not.]
very upset <05315 04751> [in bitterness of soul. Heb. bitter of soul.]
prayed <06419> [prayed.]
weeping uncontrollably <01058> [wept sore.]
<05087> [vowed.]
look <07200> [look.]
remembering <02142> [remember.]
child <0582 02233> [a man child. Heb. seed of men. I will give.]
Samuel, as a descendent of Levi, was the Lord's property, from twenty-five years of age till fifty; but the vow here implies that he should be consecrated to the Lord from his infancy to his death, and that he should not only act as a Levite, but as a Nazarite.
<04177> [there.]
praying <06419 07235> [continued praying. Heb. multiplied to pray.]
speaking <01696> [spake.]
drunk <07910> [she had.]
get drunk <07937> [How long.]
Put away <05493> [put away.]
lord <0113> [No, my Lord.]
stress <07186 07307> [of a sorrowful spirit. Heb. hard of spirit. poured.]
woman <01323> [a daughter.]
deep <07230> [out of.]
pain <07879> [complaint. or, meditation.]
<03212> [Go.]
God <0430> [the God.]
servant <08198> [Let thine.]
early <07925> [they rose.]
marital relations <03045> [knew.]
Lord ................... Lord <03068> [and the Lord.]
time <08622 03117> [when the time was come about. Heb. in revolution of days.]
Samuel. that is, Asked of God. Because.
bring <0935> [then.]
remain <03427> [and there.]
from then on <05704 05769> [for ever.]
Do .... think <06213 05869> [Do what.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
nursed ... son <03243 01121> [son suck.]
took ... up <05927> [A.M. 2839. B.C. 1165. An. Ex. Is. 326. she took.]
three bulls <06499 07969> [three bullocks.]
The LXX., Syriac, and Arabic, read "a bullock of three years old;" which is probably correct, as we read (ver. 25) that they slew {eth happar,} "the bullock."
house <01004> [house.]
brought <0935> [brought.]
alive <05315> [as thy soul.]
boy <05288> [For this.]
Lord <03068> [and the Lord.]
[lent him. or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition, to the Lord.]
The word {hishilteehoo}, "I have lent him," is the {Hiphil} conjugation of {shu„l,} "he asked," (ver. 27,) and refers to the name of Samuel.
dedicate ............ dedicated <07592> [he shall be. or, he whom I have obtained by petition shall be returned. he worshipped.]
prayed <06419> [prayed.]
heart <03820> [My heart.]
horn <07161> [mine horn.]
<06310> [my mouth.]
happy <08055> [I rejoice.]
holy <06918> [none holy.]
than <01115> [none beside.]
rock <06697> [rock.]
proud <06277> [let not arrogancy. Heb. hard.]
God <0410> [a God.]
do <05949> [by him.]
bows <07198> [The bows.]
stumble <03782> [stumbled.]
well-fed <07649> [full.]
barren <06135> [the barren.]
withers away <0535> [waxed feeble.]
both kills <04191> [killeth.]
down <03381> [he bringeth.]
impoverishes .... wealthy <03423 06238> [maketh.]
humbles <08213> [bringeth.]
weak <01800> [the poor.]
seat .... princes <03427 05081> [set them.]
foundations <04690> [the pillars.]
watches over <08104> [will keep.]
holy ones <02623> [his saints.]
speechless <01826> [be silent.]
strength <03581> [by strength.]
adversaries .... against <07378> [adversaries.]
heavens <08064> [out of heaven.]
The LXX. insert, "Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, nor the strong glory in his strength, nor the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth the Lord, and executeth judgment and righteousness in the midst of the earth."
thunders <07481> [he thunder.]
executes <01777> [judge.]
will <05414> [he shall.]
exalt <07311> [exalt.]
anointed one <04899> [anointed.]
serving <08334> [minister.]
sons <01121> [the sons.]
sons ..... wicked <01100 01121> [sons of Belial.]
recognize <03045> [knew.]
fork <04207> [all that the flesh-hook.]
First <03117> [presently. Heb. as on the day.]
take ..................... take <03947> [I will take.]
sight <06440> [before.]
treated <05006> [abhorred.]
ministering <08334> [ministered.]
linen ephod <0646 0906> [a linen ephod.]
small robe <04598 06996> [a little coat.]
{Meil katon,} "a little cloak" or {surtout;} an upper garment: see note on Ex 28:4.
at ... intervals when <03117> [from year to year.]
The natural place for this verse seems to be before the 11th, after which the 21st should probably come in; and after the 21st, perhaps the 26th should follow.
bless <01288> [blessed.]
one <07596> [loan. or, petition which she asked, etc.]
So ..... attended <06485> [visited.]
grew <01431> [grew.]
Eli <05941> [Now.]
Israel <06213 03478> [did unto.]
women <0802> [women.]
It is probable that these were persons who had some employment about the tabernacle: see note on Ex 38:8.
stationed <06633> [assembled. assembled by troops.]
do ... behave <06213> [Why.]
hear <08085> [I hear, etc. or, I hear evil words of you. by all.]
good <02896> [no good.]
Lord's <03068> [ye make.]
circulating <05674> [transgress. or, cry out.]
man sins .... man ............. man sins .... Lord ................... Lord <02398 0376 03068> [sin against.]
man ..... man ............. man <0376> [if a man.]
appeal .................. intercede <06419> [who shall.]
listen <08085> [hearkened.]
Lord ................... Lord <03068> [because.]
Rather, therefore, as the particle {kee} also signifies (see Ps 116:10:) so Noldius, {Ideo voluit Jehova eos interficere,} "Therefore Jehovah purposed to destroy them."
growing <01432 01980> [grew on.]
finding favor <02896> [was in.]
man <0376> [a man.]
plainly reveal <01540> [Did I.]
chose ............................... gave <0977 05414> [And did I.]
gave <05414> [did I give.]
scorning ... sacrifice <01163 02077> [kick ye.]
offering ............................... offerings <04503> [and at mine.]
They disdained to take the part allowed by the law; and would take for themselves what part they pleased, and as much as they pleased.
dwelling place <04583> [habitation.]
honored <03513> [and honourest.]
By permitting his sons to deal thus with the sacrifices, and to be served first, by taking their part before the fat, etc., was burnt to the Lord, Eli thus honoured his sons above God.
made yourselves fat <01254> [make.]
say <0559> [I said.]
May it never be <02486> [Be it far.]
honor .... honor <03513> [them.]
honor .... honor <03513> [I will honour.]
despise <0959> [that despise.]
remove <01438> [I will cut.]
That is, I will destroy the strength, power, influence, and authority of thee and thy family; of which the arm of man being the instrument, is used as the emblem.
trouble <06862> [an enemy, etc.]
Or, the affliction of the tabernacle, for all the wealth which God would have given Israel. This appears to be the right translation; for, agreeably to this prediction, he did see the tabernacle deprived of the ark, which was its glory, and lived to hear that it was captured by the Philistines.
old man <02205> [an old man.]
cause .... to fail <03615> [to consume.]
<0582> [in the flower, etc. Heb. men.]
sign <0226> [a sign.]
single day <0259 03117> [in one day.]
raise up <06965> [I will raise.]
build <01129> [I will build.]
heart ................. chosen one <03824 04899> [mine.]
remains <03498> [is left.]
Assign <05596> [Put. Heb. Join. one of the priest's offices. Heb. somewhat about the priesthood. eat.]
boy <05288> [the child.]
Word <01697> [the word.]
eyes <05869> [his eyes.]
lamp <05216> [ere.]
Before sun-rise: for it is probable the lamps were extinguished before the rising of the sun; see the Parallel Passages.
lamp <05216> [the lamp.]
temple <01964> [the temple.]
called ... Samuel <07121 08050> [called Samuel.]
Samuel <08050> [Now Samuel.]
Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the Lord was revealed unto him.
yet ............ yet <02962> [did not yet.]
Samuel was not destitute of the knowledge of God, in that sense which implies the total absence of true piety, as Eli's sons were; for he knew and worshipped the God of Israel: but he did not know him as communicating special revelations of his will to him, in the manner in which he made it known to the prophets.
third <07992> [the third.]
Although Samuel did not apprehend the way in which God reveals himself to his servants the prophets--by the "still small voice"--yet when this direct communication from the Almighty was made the third time, in a way altogether new and strange to him, it seems astonishing that he did not immediately apprehend. Perhaps he would have been sooner aware of a divine revelation, had it come in a dream or a vision. Those who have the greatest knowledge of divine things, should remember the time when they were as babes, unskilful in the word of righteousness. # 1Co 13:11,12
Speak <01696> [Speak.]
Lord came <0935 03068> [the Lord came.]
This seems to imply a visible appearance, as well as an audible voice.
<06471> [as at other.]
Samuel did not now rise and run as before, when thought he Eli called, but lay still and listened. All must be silent, when God speaks. Observe, however, Samuel in his reply left out one word: he did not say, Speak, Lord, but only Speak, for thy servant heareth; perhaps, as Bp. Patrick suggests, out of uncertainty, whether it was God that spake to him or not. However, by this answer way was made for the message he was now to receive, and Samuel was brought acquainted with the words of God and visions of the Almighty.
do <06213> [I will do.]
both .... ears <0241 08147> [both the ears.]
carry out <06965> [I will perform.]
start <02490> [when I begin, etc. Heb. beginning and ending.]
tell ........ judge <05046 05704 08199> [For I have told him. or, And I will tell him, etc.]
judge <08199> [I will.]
knew <03045> [which he knoweth.]
sons <01121> [his sons.]
cursing <07043> [vile. or, accursed. restrained them not. Heb. frowned not upon them.]
sin <05771> [the iniquity.]
opened <06605> [opened.]
Samuel ................ Samuel <08050> [Samuel.]
Samuel reverenced Eli as a father, and feared to distress him by shewing what God had purposed to do. It does not appear that God commanded Samuel to deliver this message; he therefore did not attempt it till adjured by Eli. It might be supposed that Samuel would have been so full of ecstasy as to have forgotten his ordinary service, and run amongst his friends to tell them of the converse he had with God in the night: but he modestly keeps it to himself. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed on the house-top.
afraid <03372> [feared.]
conceal ............ conceal <03582> [I pray thee.]
God <0430> [God.]
severely <03254> [more also. Heb. so add. thing. or, word.]
<01697> [every whit. Heb. all the things, or, words.]
Whit, or wid, comes from the Anglo-Saxon {wiht,} which signifies person, thing, etc.: every whit is every thing: equivalent to every jot.
Lord <03068> [It is the Lord.]
grow <01431> [grew.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
prophecies ...... unfulfilled <01697> [let none.]
Dan <01835> [Dan.]
confirmed <0539> [established. or, faithful.]
Lord ............. Lord ............ Lord <03068> [And the Lord.]
{Wyyoseph yehowah lehairaâ€h,} "And Jehovah added to appear:" that is, He continued to reveal himself to Samuel at Shiloh.
appeared <07200> [appeared.]
word <01697> [the word.]
Israel .... Israelites <03478> [A.M. 2863. B.C. 1141. An. Ex. Is. 350. came. or, came to pass. Heb. was.]
Ebenezer <072> [Eben-ezer.]
That is, the place afterwards so called: See the Parallel Texts.
Aphek <0663> [Aphek.]
This Aphek was situated in the tribe of Judah, and is probably the same as Aphekah.
It must be carefully distinguished from that near Jezreel, and another in Asher. .# 29:1 Jos 19:30 1Ki 20:30
arranged <06186> [put.]
battle spread <04421 05203> [they joined battle. Heb. the battle was spread. Israel.]
killed <05221> [and they.]
battle line <04634> [the army. Heb. the array.]
Lord ..................... Lord <03068> [Wherefore.]
take <03947> [Let us.]
take <03947> [fetch. Heb. take unto us. the ark.]
save <03467> [it may save.]
sits <03427> [which dwelleth.]
cherubim <03742> [the cherubims.]
Hophni <02652> [Hophni.]
ark ............................ ark <0727> [with the ark.]
Israel <03478> [all Israel.]
They vainly supposed that the ark would save them, when the God of it had departed from them because of their wickedness.
sound <06963> [What meaneth.]
scared <03372> [were afraid.]
<0865> [heretofore. Heb. yesterday or the third day.]
struck <05221> [smote.]
strong <02388> [Be strong.]
serving ........ served <05647> [as they have.]
like ..................... like <0582 01961> [quit yourselves like men. Heb. be men.]
Israel <03478> [Israel.]
they <0376> [every man.]
very great <01419 03966> [a very great.]
ark <0727> [the ark.]
two sons <01121 08147> [the two sons.]
killed <04191> [were slain. Heb. died.]
clothes ... torn <04055 07167> [with his clothes rent.]
These, as we have already remarked, were the general signs of sorrow and distress.
dirt <0127> [with earth.]
sitting .... chair <03427 03678> [sat upon.]
worried <03820> [his heart.]
outcry ....... commotion <06963> [What meaneth.]
ninety-eight <08673> [ninety.]
eyes <05869> [and his eyes.]
straight ahead <06965> [were dim. Heb. stood.]
things <01697> [What is there done. Heb. What is the thing.]
son <01121> [my son.]
Israel <03478> [Israel.]
mentioned <02142> [when he made.]
neck <04665> [his neck.]
judged <08199> [And he had.]
"He seems to have been a judge to do justice only, and that in south-west Israel."
afraid ..... birth <03372 03205> [Fear not.]
pay <07896> [neither did she regard it. Heb. and set not her heart.]
Ichabod <0350> [I-chabod. that is, Where is the glory?. or, There is no glory. The glory.]
glory <03519> [The glory.]
