Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 7:13
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
13 17. Summary Account of Samuel’s Judgeship
13. So the Philistines were subdued ] Cp. Jdg 3:30; Jdg 4:23-24. The word signifies “ were brought low,” but does not imply complete subjugation. The forty years oppression (Jdg 13:1) now came to an end.
they came no more into the coast of Israel ] The same phrase is used in 2Ki 6:23, where the very next verse speaks of a fresh invasion. It is obvious therefore that the Hebrew historian could use the expression relatively and not absolutely, to describe a cessation of the Philistine inroads for the time being. How long it lasted we are not told, but
the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel ] Yet we find the people groaning under the Philistine oppression (1Sa 9:16): a garrison or a tribute-collector stationed at Gibeah (1Sa 10:5, 1Sa 13:3): a general disarmament of the nation by the Philistines (1Sa 13:19): Hebrew slaves in the Philistine camp (1Sa 14:21): and three invasions of the land (1Sa 13:5, 1Sa 17:1, 1Sa 23:27): all during Samuel’s lifetime. We must then understand the statement in the text as either ( a) “a general expression allowable in such a brief survey as is here given:” or ( b) as referring only to the period of Samuel’s active judgeship. In the latter case we may conjecture that the Philistines re-established their ascendancy in his old age, in consequence of the weak and corrupt government of his sons.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
All the days of Samuel – Not (as in 1Sa 7:15), all the days of his life, but all the days of his government, when as Judge he ruled over Israel, before they asked for a king.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. They came no more into the coast of Israel] Perhaps a more signal victory was never gained by Israel; the Lord had brought them low, almost to extermination; and now, by his miraculous interference, he lifts them completely up, and humbles to the dust their proud oppressors. God often suffers nations and individuals to be brought to the lowest extremity, that he may show his mercy and goodness by suddenly rescuing them from destruction, when all human help has most evidently failed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They came no more into the coast of Israel, i.e. they came not with a great host, as now they did, but only molested them with straggling parties, or garrisons; as 1Sa 10:5; and they came not, to wit,
all the days of Samuel, as it follows, i.e. while Samuel was their sole judge, or ruler; for in Sauls time they did come, 1Sa 13:5,17; 1Sa 14:52; 17:1, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So the Philistines were subdued,…. Not that their country was conquered, or they made subject and become tributaries to Israel; but they were so humbled, as not to attempt to give the people of Israel any further trouble and distress, who were now delivered from their oppression and tyranny:
and came no more into the coast of Israel; at this time they did not gather together their forces dispersed, nor raise and bring a new army into the land of Israel; they contented themselves with placing garrisons on the coast, but did not attempt to enter and invade them any more; that is, for a long time, even until Samuel was grown old, and the people would have a king, and had one, which offended the Lord, and then he suffered them to be distressed by them again; but while Samuel was alone governor they came no more, though they did quickly after Saul was made king, as it follows:
the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel; not all the days of his life, but all the days of his sole government, which restrained them from making incursions into the land of Israel; and indeed in later times, when they did come forth to make war with them, the battle was against them during the times of Samuel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| The Defeat of the Philistines. | B. C. 1092. |
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
We have here a short account of the further good services that Samuel did to Israel. Having parted them from their idols, and brought them home to their God, he had put them into a capacity of receiving further benefits by his ministry. Having prevailed in that, he becomes, in other instances, a great blessing to them; yet, writing it himself, he is brief in the relation. We are not told here, but it appears (2 Chron. xxxv. 18) that in the days of Samuel the prophet the people of Israel kept the ordinance of the passover with more than ordinary devotion, notwithstanding the distance of the ark and the desolations of Shiloh. Many good offices, no doubt, he did for Israel, but here we are only told how instrumental he was, 1. In securing the public peace (v. 13): “In his days the Philistines came no more into the coast of Israel, made no inroads or incursions upon them; they perceived that God now fought for Israel and that his hand was against the Philistines, and this kept them in awe, and restrained the remainder of their wrath.” Samuel was a protector and deliverer to Israel, not by dint of sword, as Gideon, nor by strength of arm, as Samson, but by the power of prayer to God and carrying on a work of reformation among the people. Religion and piety are the best securities of a nation. 2. In recovering the public rights, v. 14. By his influence Israel had the courage to demand the cities which the Philistines had unjustly taken from them and had long detained; and the Philistines, not daring to contend with one that had so great an interest in heaven, tamely yielded to the demand, and restored (some think) even Ekron and Gath, two of the capital cities, though afterwards they retook them; others think some small towns that lay between Ekron and Gath, which were forced out of the Philistines’ hands. This they got by their reformation and religion, they got ground of their enemies and got forward in their affairs. It is added, There was peace between Israel and the Amorites, that is, the Canaanites, the remains of the natives. Not that Israel made any league with them, but they were quiet, and not so mischievous to Israel as they had sometimes been. Thus when a man’s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him and give him no disturbance, Prov. xvi. 7. 3. In administering public justice (1Sa 7:15; 1Sa 7:16): He judged Israel; as a prophet he taught them their duty and reproved them for their sins, which is called judging,Eze 20:4; Eze 22:2. Moses judged Israel when he made them know the statutes of God and his laws (Exod. xviii. 16); and thus Samuel judged them to the last, even after Saul was made king; so he promised them then, when Saul was inaugurated (ch. xii. 23), I will not cease to teach you the good and the right way. As a magistrate, he received appeals from the inferior courts and gave judgment upon them, tried causes and determined them, tried prisoners and acquitted or condemned them, according to the law. This he did all his days, till he grew old and past service, and resigned to Saul; and afterwards he exercised authority when application was made to him; nay, he judged even Agag, and Saul himself. But when he was in his prime he rode the circuit, for the convenience of the country, at least of that part of it which lay most under his influence. He kept courts at Beth-el, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, all in the tribe of Benjamin; but his constant residence was at Ramah, his father’s city, and there he judged Israel, thither they resorted to him from all parts with their complaints, v. 17. 4. In keeping up the public exercises of religion; for there, where he lived, he built an altar to the Lord, not in contempt of the altar that was at Nob, or Gibeon, or wherever the tabernacle was; but divine justice having laid Shiloh waste, and no other place being yet chosen for them to bring their offerings to (Deut. xii. 11), he looked upon the law which confined them to one place to be for the present suspended, and therefore, being a prophet, and under divine direction, he did as the patriarchs did, he built an altar where he lived, both for the use of his own family and for the good of the country that resorted to it. Great men should use their wealth, power, and interest, for the keeping up of religion in the places where they live.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES
1Sa. 7:13. They came no more. They no more invaded the territory of Israel with lasting success as they had done before. The words which immediately followthe hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines, etc., show that they made attempts to recover their lost supremacy, but that so long as Samuel lived they were unable to effect anything against Israel (Keil). The forty years domination, mentioned in Jdg. 13:1, now terminated.
1Sa. 7:14. From Ekron even unto Gath. This definition is probably to be understood as exclusive, i.e., as signifying that the Israelites received back their cities up to the very borders of the Philistines, measuring these borders from Ekron to Gath. For although these chief cities of the Philistines had been allotted to the tribes of Judah and Dan, in the time of Joshua (Jos. 13:3-4; Jos. 15:45-46), yet, notwithstanding the fact that Judah and Simeon conquered Ekron, together with Gaza and Askelon, after the death of Joshua (Jdg. 1:18), the Israelites did not obtain any permanent possession.(Keil).
And there was peace, etc. These words suggest what is in itself very probable, that in this war the Amorites, finding the Philistines worse masters than the Israelites, made common cause with Samuel, and assisted the Israelites in their wars against the Philistines.(Biblical Commentary.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.1Sa. 7:13-14
VICTORY, REST, AND RESTORATION
I. One decisive victory brings a long season of rest. This victory at Ebenezer brought peace to Israel for many years, and so the human soul, by a decisive victory over one strong temptation, gains often a long season of rest from the tempters snares. He gives by such a victory such a proof to the powers of evil of his moral courage that it is deemed hopeless to renew the conflict while the soul remains so strong and watchful. It is written concerning the Son of God, after His decisive victory over the devil in the wilderness, that the tempter departed from Him for a season (Luk. 4:13). The total defeat he had experienced told him how vain it would be to renew the assault while the being whom he desired to overthrow remained in His present frame of soul. In all warfare it is best to decide at once who is to be the master of the field by a decisive blow, and if a Christian desires any rest of soul there must be no parleying with his spiritual enemies, he mustwith the help of the same God by whom Israel routed the Philistines at Ebenezerlet them know without delay who is to be the conqueror. Even then the devil will depart for a season only, but these seasons of repose will enable him to gather strength for the next attack.
II. Victory brings restoration of that which has been lost by subjection. When Israel had conquered her oppressors she regained the cities which had been taken from her in the day of her subjection. The human race does not now possess all that belonged to it when God created the first man, and bade him replenish the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). God at first put all things under his feet (Psa. 8:6). But now it is plain that man is not the absolute lord, either of the earth and the phenomena of nature, or of the animal creation. He has lost his rule by sin. We see not yet all things put under him (Heb. 2:8). But when man is restored to his original position in the universe by victory over sin, he will recover his lost rule over material things. There is to be a time of restitution (Act. 3:21), when the powers which now hold man in subjection will be finally defeated, and he will recover his former dominion, not only over himself, but over the world and over all the creatures below him in the scale of creation.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
The revival of religion has ever had a most important bearing on social and moral improvement. The return of man to God restores him to his brother. Restoration to the earnest and hearty performance of religious duties towards God, leads to a corresponding reformation in relative and political duties. Those countries in Europe which have had the greatest religious reforms, have advanced most in liberty, civilisation, and commerce. They are not trodden by the iron heel of despotism, and they possess the greatest amount of domestic quiet. It was the revival of religion which secured the Protestant succession to England, and many of the liberties we now enjoy. It was the revival of religion that gave such a martyr-roll to the Scottish Covenanters, and led to the revolution settlement of 1688. In Israel every revival of religion was succeeded by national prosperity and political independence.Steel.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(13) So the Philistines were subdued.The work of Samuel had been thorough. It was no mere solitary victory, this success of Israel at Ebenezer, but was the sign of a new spirit in Israel, which animated the nation during the lifetime of Samuel, and the reigns of David and Solomon and the great Hebrew kings. The petty jealousies had disappeared, and had given place to a great national desire for unity. In the several tribal districts it was no longer the glory and prosperity of Judah, Ephraim, or Benjamin, but the glory and prosperity of Israel that was aimed at. The old idol worship of Canaan, which corrupted and degraded every nationality which practised it, was in a great measure swept away from among the chosen people, while the pure religion of the Eternal of Hosts was no longer confided solely to the care and guardianship of the tribe of Levi, which had shown itself unworthy of the mighty trust. The Levites still ministered in the sanctuary, and when the Temple took its place, alone officiated in its sacred courts; and the chosen race of Aaron, in the family first of Ithamar, then of Eleazar, alone wore the jewels and the official robe of the high priest; but in religious matters the power of the priestly tribe was never again supreme in the Land of Promise. From the days of Samuel a new orderthat of the Prophets, whose exact functions with regard to the ritual of the worship of the Eternal were undefinedwas acknowledged by the people as the regular medium of communication with the Jewish King of Israel.
The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.The Philistines never entirely recovered their supremacy in Canaan. There was. it is true, a long fierce struggle, but with the exception of the short period which immediately preceded the election of Saul, and the temporary disasters of the children of Israel which were the punishments of that kings disobediencefrom this time forward the power of the Philistines gradually decayed. while the strength of Israel steadily increased, until King David completely subdued them, and the old oppressors of Israel were absorbed into the subject races of Canaan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Came no more into the coast of Israel They did not succeed in regaining what they had lost in Israel; they came no more as they had been wont to come, driving Israel before them and bringing them into subjection. The passage does not mean that the Philistines made no further attempt to enter the territory of Israel, for the contrary is implied in the words that immediately follow.
The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel They made repeated attempts to regain their lost cause, and Saul kept up a constant war against them all his days, (1Sa 14:52,) but not until after the death of Samuel did they enter triumphantly the coasts of Israel. 1Sa 31:1. While the holy Samuel lived, all their efforts to conquer Israel resulted in defeat. He thus completed the deliverance which Samson began many years before. Jdg 13:5.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(13) So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
The ministry of Samuel was so much blessed, that the Philistines dared not invade Israel all his days. We learn that the passover was observed during the government of Samuel, though the ark was not with them. See 2Ch 35:18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Ver. 13. And they came no more, ] sc., With any success; or they did no more at this time rally their scattered troops and recruit their army, they were so terrified.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
coast = border, or boundary.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
subdued: Jdg 13:1
came no more: 1Sa 13:1-5
against: 1Sa 14:6-16, 1Sa 14:20-23, 1Sa 17:49-53, 1Sa 28:3-5, 1Sa 31:1-7
Reciprocal: Deu 2:15 – the hand of the Jdg 13:5 – begin 1Sa 5:9 – the hand 1Sa 12:11 – Samuel
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 7:13. Came no more That is, with a great host, but only molested them with straggling parties, or garrisons. All the days of Samuel That is, while Samuel was their sole judge, or ruler; for in Sauls time they did come.