1 Samuel 7
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 7
NJB (MT versing) Deliverance from the Philistines Samuel Judges Israel Samuel As Judge of All Israel Samuel Rules Israel Samuel, Judge and Liberator 7:1-2 7:2-8 7:2 7:2 7:2-4 7:3-6 7:3-4 7:3-4 7:5-6 7:5-6 7:5-6 7:7-11 7:7-11 7:7-11 7:7-12 7:9-12 7:12-14 7:12-14 7:12-14 Samuel's Ministry 7:13-14 7:13-14 7:15-17 7:15-17 7:15-17 7:15-17 7:15-17 Etc.
1 Samuel 7:1-2
7:1 "house of Abinadab on the hill" The Hebrew term "house" (BDB 108) can refer to private house ‒ 1 Sam. 1:19; 2:11; etc. temple of YHWH ‒ 1 Sam. 1:7,24 of Dagon ‒ 1 Sam. 5:2,5 It seems unlikely that the ark would be brought to a private residence. The phrase "on the hill" implies a prominent place, possibly the site of an ancient place of worship. It also does not appear that this man, or his son, was a Levitical priest, though they may have been associated with the ancient shrine on the hill. Apparently the ark and the tent of meeting were separated during this period. 7:2-3 Why did Israel lament? Was it because their central shrine was disrupted during this period? Verse 3 seems to imply that Israel's fertility worship with its consequences was the reason for the lament (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL'S MANDATED RESPONSE TO CANAANITE FERTILITY WORSHIP
1 Samuel 7:3-6
7:3 "If you return" This VERBAL root (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal PARTICIPLE) is often used of repentance (i.e., turning back to God). SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) ▣ "with all your heart" This was an idiom of total commitment (i.e., 1 Kgs. 8:18; 2 Kgs. 23:25; 2 Chr. 6:38). No half-hearted gestures of religious activity would do! ▣ "Ashtaroth" This name (BDB 800) of the female consort of Ba'al is PLURAL (BDB 127). These Canaanite deities were worshiped in every village and town. There were numerous special places of worship (i.e., a raised platform with two symbols): a live or carved tree (female) a raised pillar or phallic symbol ▣ "direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him" These commands denote a reverent attitude and prescribed worship activities. direct ‒ to direct one's attention to ‒ BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil imperative (i.e., 1 Chr. 29:18; 2 Chr. 20:33; also note 2 Chr. 19:3; 30:19) serve ‒ BDB 712, KB 773, Qal IMPERATIVE implies sacrifices, rituals, special days, pilgrimages, liturgy (i.e., Exod. 3:12; 4:23; 7:16; 8:1; 10:26) ▣ "Remove the foreign gods" Exactly which ones is not specified. The fertility poles (i.e., Ashtaroth) are mentioned as a separate category. Asherah, Astarte, Anath were names for the female fertility goddess of Cannan. Ba'al was the male counterpoint. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE ▣ "He will deliver you" This VERB (BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil JUSSIVE, cf. vv. 3,8,14) means to deliver. rescue, recover ‒ Jdgs. 11:26; 1 Sam. 30:8; 18:22 deliver from enemies ‒ 1 Sam. 12:21 deliver from the power of ‒ Exod. 18:10; 2 Sam. 14:16; 19:10; 22:1; 2 Kgs. 20:6 deliver from death ‒ Ps. 86:13; Pro. 11:6; 12:6; 23:14 deliver from sin ‒ Ps., 39:9; 51:16 In this context #3 fits best. 7:4 "the Baals and the Ashtaroth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE. ▣ "served the Lord alone" YHWH is a jealous God. He and He alone must be worshiped (cf. Exod. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; 32:16,21; Ps. 78:58). SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP 7:5 Samuel prays for gathered Israel. SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER 7:6 Notice the three worship acts. "drew water and poured it out before the Lord" this unknown physical act may somehow be related to the rejection of Ba'al as the provider of rain this VERBAL is used often for spiritual prayer (cf. 1 Sam. 1:15; Ps. 42:4; 62:8; Lam. 2:19) "fasted on that day" ‒ this was an outward symbol of grief or repentance (cf. 1 Sam. 31:13; 2 Sam. 1:12; 12:16,21,22; see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 780-782; see SPECIAL TOPIC: FASTING) "We have sinned" ‒ an act of corporate prayer (see SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER) ▣ "Samuel judged Israel" Usually the action of a judge in Israel in this period involved sacrifice (vv. 9,10) prayer (vv. 8, 9) military action (vv. 7,11) memorial acts (v. 12)
1 Samuel 7:7-11
7:7 "the lords of the Philistines" The Philistines were from the Aegean Islands. They brought their form of government with them (i.e., city-states, like Greece). There were five main cities and five "kings" of these city-states (i.e., Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron). 7:8 "He may save us" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT). ▣ "the hand of the Philistines" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND. 7:9 "whole burnt offering" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BURNT OFFERING. For a good brief article on the changing meanings of the term "Levite" see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 68-72. 7:10 Notice the two specific things YHWH did for Israel in battle. thundered with a great thunder (cf. 1 Sam. 2:10; 2 Sam. 22:14; Ps. 29:3-4) confused them (cf. Exod. 23:27; Deut. 7:23; Josh. 10:10; Jdgs. 4:15; Ps. 18:14) This is reminiscent of the language of "holy war" in Joshua. It is possible that these two things represent one act.
1 Samuel 7:12-14
7:12 "Ebenezer" This is a compound word. stone ‒ BDB 6 help ‒ BDB 740 Josephus, Antiq. 6.2.2, calls it "the stone of power" It was a memorial stone raised up to commemorate YHWH's acts of deliverance (cf. Gen. 28:18; 35:14-15; Josh. 4:9; 18:17; 24:26; 1 Sam. 20:19) This is not the same place by this same name mentioned in 1 Sam. 4:1. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX "Thus far" "all the way" "as far as this" "For up to now" "Hither to" "Up to here" The MT has the PREPOSITION (BDB 723 III) "as far as" and the ADVERB (BDB 244 I) which could have a temporal concept ‒ "up to now" a geographical location ‒ "up to this place" The UBS Handbook, p. 100, supports the first option, thinking it refers to Saul's later rejection by YHWH. ▣ NASB, NKJV, TEV, JPSOA, NET "Shen" NRSV, REB, JPSOA footnote "Jeshanah" "the Tooth" "the old city" "Beth-jashan" The MT has "Shen" (BDB 1042 II, KB 1593-1595), which means "ivory" or "tooth." This seems to be an unknown location of a rock outcropping. "Jeshanah" is a city in Benjamin mentioned in 2 Chr. 13:19, close to Bethel. 7:13 "all the days of Samuel" This is an idiom for the life of Samuel. SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom) 7:14 "So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites" This seems like a misplaced summary statement. The context is dealing with Philistines not the Amorites. Probably here it is a collective term for all the inhabitants of Canaan. SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE