1 Samuel 7:17 Kommentar

In this chapter we have, I. The eclipsing of the glory of the ark, by its privacy in Kirjath-jearim for many years (Sa1 7:1, Sa1 7:2). II. The appearing of the glory of Samuel in his public services for the good of Israel, to whom he was raised up to be a judge, and he was the last that bore that character. This chapter gives us all the account we have of him when he was in the prime of his time; for what we had before was in his childhood (ch. 2 and 3); what we have of him after was in his old age (Sa1 8:1). We have him here active, 1. In the reformation of Israel from their idolatry (Sa1 7:3, Sa1 7:4). 2. In the reviving of religion among them (Sa1 7:5, Sa1 7:6). 3. In praying for them against the invading Philistines (Sa1 7:7-9), over whom God, in answer to his prayer, gave them a glorious victory (Sa1 7:10, Sa1 7:11). 4. In erecting a thankful memorial of that victory (Sa1 7:12). 5. In the improvement of that victory (Sa1 7:13, Sa1 7:14). 6. In the administration of justice (Sa1 7:15-17). And these were the things for which God was preparing the designing him, in the early vouchsafements of his grace to him.

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 7 This chapter gives an account of the ark being brought to Kirjathjearim, where it continued twenty years, Sa1 7:1 of the exhortation of Samuel to the people of Israel to reform from idolatry, and which had its desired effect, Sa1 7:3 of Samuel's praying for the people, and offering sacrifices for them, and of the success thereof, victory over their enemies, Sa1 7:5, and of his administration of justice to them, and constancy in it, Sa1 7:15.

And his return was to Ramah,.... When he had gone his circuit, he came back to this city, which was his native place, and where his father and mother had dwelt, see Sa1 1:1. for there was his house; and his father's house before him, and perhaps the same, Sa1 1:19 and there he judged Israel; here was his fixed residence, and here he was always to be met with, except when on his circuit; and hither the people of Israel might come from all parts, to have justice done them between man and man, or receive information in matters of difficulty and importance: and there he built an altar unto the Lord: to offer his own sacrifices, and the sacrifices of the people, either by himself, or by a priest, when the people came to have justice administered to them; or to desire him to pray for them, teach and instruct them, or to give them advice. Shiloh being destroyed, and no place appointed for the tabernacle and altar, the Jews say, high places for a private altar were lawful, and even for one that was not a priest to offer; these things, though settled by law, yet were for a time dispensed with, until things could be fixed in their proper place and order. Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 8

31. As we have already said far above, Ramah is interpreted as "consummated vision" and signifies that blessed and perfect society of the citizens above, to which Samuel returns lest he be weighed down by the burden of his labor. For Samuel returns to Ramah when the mind of the preacher is refreshed through love of heavenly things. For amid the immense burdens of his office he would collapse, if he did not return to love of heavenly things through the desire of his hope. For to return, for preachers, is to lead the intention of their mind back to the joys of the heavenly fatherland. And there they judge Israel, because they strive by preaching to make their faithful subjects conformable to the beauty of the heavenly fatherland which they retain in their mind. There they judge Israel, because from that already perfect city they draw the pattern they see, which they impress upon the minds of their children by speaking; and whatever they perceive to be unworthy of that beauty, they endeavor to cut away from their minds. And because they rest with complete love in the glory of that blessed fatherland, his house is said to be there. For his house is recognized to be that in which he dwells by loving. Whence also that outstanding preacher boasts, saying: "Our citizenship is in heaven." For he goes around Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and in none of these does he have a house, but in Ramah he has a house: because the holy doctors of the Church, whatever they now receive from the examples of the elect, whatever from the instruction of the sacred books, whatever from the height of heavenly revelation—they examine these things in passing, having them as an aid for the journey, not as the object of love for their reward. But what they love in the heavenly city they have not for the advancement of the journey, but for the sufficient—indeed, for the abundant—generosity of their reward. And because all good things are gathered there, it follows: "He also built an altar there to the Lord." 32. For what is the altar of the Lord, if not the heart of the just man? Moreover, by the judgment of Truth it is said: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21). But he who does good works out of love for the heavenly homeland, while he ardently desires to arrive at those things which he stores up above, assuredly builds an altar upon which he may kindle the sacrifices of daily desire. And it is well said: "He built there an altar to the Lord," because from the increase of heavenly zeal, just as the flame of good desire grows in the heart, so also, as if by the addition of stones, an altar is built upward where holocausts of love may be offered to God. This can also be fittingly applied to the gaining of souls. For the teacher builds an altar to the Lord in Ramah when he places the merits of his subjects in heaven, and while through his daily zeal chosen souls ascend to the heavenly kingdoms, they are sent, as it were, as stones for the construction of the heavenly altar. Let it therefore be said of Samuel, let it be said: "He built there an altar to the Lord," because surely the zeal of the teacher is altogether idle if through what is done by him on earth the heavenly edifice is not increased.

And he returned to Ramathia, etc. The Lord returned to heaven in body by ascending once, the office of His dispensation having been completed; he returns daily in divine presence, by which he always and everywhere reaches entirety from end to end strongly, and arranges all things sweetly. For there is the flesh that he assumed for us and glorified; there is the hall of the blessed and of angels and men; there is the habitation promised to us by God, a house not made by hand, eternal in the heavens. Whence Ramathia is rightly called his height; and there, placed in body, he himself judges the Church, either chastising those still wandering on earth, until he leads them to the heavenly, or distributing worthy seats to those already dwelling with him according to merits, where in the house of his Father he has many mansions (John XIII), knowing that the Father has given all things into his hands, and has given him authority to execute judgment (John V). There also within the veil of heaven and the eternal holy of holies, he was building an altar for the hearts of the heavenly citizens to the Father. From this, the fire of his charity being ignited, the incense of everlasting praise rises, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah VI). And again: Salvation to our God, who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb (Revelation VII); and other such things, which being brought thither in the Spirit, the beloved disciple heard, to be often repeated and always remembered. Thus far may it suffice to have briefly indicated in the first book of our exposition the change from the old priesthood to the new, prefigured in the guise of Heli and Samuel, so that we may freely investigate from another beginning the wider mysteries of the changing kingdom, which were prefigured through Saul and David, relying not on our ingenuity, but depending on the help of him through all things, to whom the whole Scripture of prophecy serves, whose kingdom shall have no end, and is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The men of Kirjah-jearim bring the ark from Beth-shemesh, and consecrate Eleazar, the son of Abinadab, to keep it; and there it continued twenty years, Sa1 7:1, Sa1 7:2. Samuel reproves and exhorts the people, and gathers them together at Mizpeh, where they fast and pray, and confess their sins, Sa1 7:3-6. The Philistines go up against them; the Israelites cry unto the Lord for help; Samuel offers sacrifices; and the Lord confounds the Philistines with thunder; Israel discomfits and pursues them to Beth-car, Sa1 7:7-11. Samuel erects a stone for a memorial, and calls it Eben-ezer, Sa1 7:12. The Philistines are totally subdued, and Israel recovers all its lost cities, Sa1 7:13, Sa1 7:14. Samuel acts as an itinerant judge in Israel, Sa1 7:15-17.

THE ARK AT KIRJATH-JEARIM. (Sa1 7:1-2) the men of Kirjath-jearim--"the city of woods," also Kirjath-baal (Jos 15:60; Jos 18:14; Ch1 13:5-6). It was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh and stood on a hill. This was the reason of the message (Sa1 6:21), and why this was chosen for the convenience of people turning their faces to the ark (Kg1 8:29-35; Psa 28:2; Dan 6:10). brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill--Why it was not transported at once to Shiloh where the tabernacle and sacred vessels were remaining, is difficult to conjecture. sanctified . . . his son--He was not a Levite, and was therefore only set apart or appointed to be keeper of the place.

The inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim complied with this request, and brought the ark into the house of Abinadab upon the height, and sanctified Abinadab's son Eleazar to be the keeper of the ark. Kirjath-jearim, the present Kuryet el Enab (see at Jos 9:17), was neither a priestly nor a Levitical city. The reason why the ark was taken there, is to be sought for, therefore, in the situation of the town, i.e., in the fact that Kirjath-jearim was the nearest large town on the road from Bethshemesh to Shiloh. We have no definite information, however, as to the reason why it was not taken on to Shiloh, to be placed in the tabernacle, but was allowed to remain in the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, where a keeper was expressly appointed to take charge of it; so that we can only confine ourselves to conjectures. Ewald's opinion (Gesch. ii. 540), that the Philistines had conquered Shiloh after the victory described in 1 Samuel 4, and had destroyed the ancient sanctuary there, i.e., the tabernacle, is at variance with the accounts given in Sa1 21:6; Kg1 3:4; Ch2 1:3, respecting the continuance of worship in the tabernacle at Nob and Gibeon. There is much more to be said in support of the conjecture, that the carrying away of the ark by the Philistines was regarded as a judgment upon the sanctuary, which had been desecrated by the reckless conduct of the sons of Eli, and consequently, that even when the ark itself was recovered, they would not take it back without an express declaration of the will of God, but were satisfied, as a temporary arrangement, to leave the ark in Kirjath-jearim, which was farther removed from the cities of the Philistines. And there it remained, because no declaration of the divine will followed respecting its removal into the tabernacle, and the tabernacle itself had to be removed from Shiloh to Nob, and eventually to Gibeon, until David had effected the conquest of the citadel of Zion, and chosen Jerusalem as his capital, when it was removed from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). It is not stated that Abinadab was a Levites; but this is very probable, because otherwise they would hardly have consecrated his son to be the keeper of the ark, but would have chosen a Levite for the office.