Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 16:4
And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
4. Beth-lehem ] Beth-lehem (= “house of bread”) was the later name of the ancient town of Ephrath (Gen 48:7). It was situated about five miles south of Jerusalem, a short distance east of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron. As the scene of the fresh picture of domestic life contained in the book of Ruth it would possess no common interest, but as the “city of David” (Luk 2:4), and the birthplace of Him of Whom David was a type, it is, next to Jerusalem itself, the most sacred spot on earth. Here too, it should be remembered, “beside what he believed to be literally the cradle of the Christian faith Jerome composed the famous translation of the Scriptures which is still the ‘Biblia Vulgata’ of the Latin Church.” Stanley’s Sin. and Pal., p. 442.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4. the elders of the town, &c.] The elders of the city (see note on 1Sa 8:4) came to meet him trembling. Perhaps Samuel’s visits were often made with the view of rebuking sin and correcting abuses, and hence their alarm: or the breach between him and Saul may have made the elders afraid of incurring the royal displeasure by welcoming him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Trembled – There was evidently something unusual in Samuels coming to Bethlehem; and the elders, knowing that Samuel was no longer at friendship with Saul, foreboded some evil.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Sa 16:4-18
And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem.
Samuels visit to Bethlehem
1. How much history is entwined around one locality! The very name of a village recalls events most momentous to the world, and fills our minds with the memories of the past. Man is a materialist, and he tries to give a material magnitude to memorable places; but God chooses any common spot for the cradle of a mighty incident, or the home of a mighty spirit. Twenty years ago, says the writer from whom we have just quoted, Some English voyagers were standing on a flat beach within the Arctic Seas. From the excitement of their looks, the avidity with which they gazed into the ground, and the enthusiasm with which they looked around them, it was evident that they deemed it a spot of singular interest. But anything outwardly less interesting you could hardly imagine. On the one side, the coast retreated in low and wintry ridges; and on the other, a pale ocean bore its icy freight beneath a watery sky; whilst under the travellers feet lay neither bars of gold nor a gravel of gems, but blocks of unsightly limestone. Yet it was the centre of one of natures greatest mysteries. It was the reward of years of adventure and hardship; it was the answer to the long aspirations and efforts of science–it was the Magnetic Pole. The travellers grudged that a place so important should appear so tame. Bethlehem was little among the thousands of Judah in its palmiest days, and it has not advanced in civic greatness since; yet one of the most celebrated spots of which the world is proud. While yet without its village, it had a hallowed name in Hebrew story as the birthplace of Benjamin and the burial place of Rachel. There were the fields of Boaz, where Ruth gleaned behind the reapers amidst the golden sheaves. There Jesse held his patrimony, and in his dwelling was the nativity of the minstrel king. There was anointed the man after Gods own heart to be the king of Israel, by which his native village was made the mother of a long line of princes. Here halted the star that had guided eastern sages to behold the King of kings. And behind the khan, in one of the oxens stalls, a wayfaring woman brought forth her first-born son, because there was no room for her in the inn; and in that babe of Bethlehem the incarnate God was manifest. Many have gone far to behold this sacred spot, and have lingered devoutly over its scenes as they recalled the glorious events of which it has been the theatre.
2. Samuel had felt it hard to bow to the decree of God, and sorrowed so much as to receive a rebuke–the only one recorded as spoken by God to him. He was reluctant to go to Bethlehem even after his commission. He shrunk from this task which added all that was wanting to confirm the doom of Saul. He sought to shun the duty by expressing apprehensions for his safety should Saul hear of the transaction. How can I go? If Saul hear it he will kill me. This was a question of inquiry, perhaps, rather than of distrust–a question such as Manoah put regarding the angelic visitant to his wife, and such as the Virgin Mary proposed when she asked regarding the unparalleled annunciation which Gabriel had made to her. Samuel sought counsel from the Lord in his extremity, that he might be enabled to fulfil the Divine command. It was not that he shrank from duty, however trying, but that his way might be opened up for its discharge. God suggested a way: And the Lord said, take an heifer with thee, and say. I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. This removed the great difficulty, and guaranteed Divine wisdom to direct his conduct. How safely might he go when he had the counsel of God–when he was assured of strength and wisdom according to his day! It is ever thus with obedient faith in following the path of duty. The believer may go on when he has the word of God to encourage him. The Lord opened up Samuels way by suggesting an exercise that concealed his chief object. He was to take a heifer with him, and call Jesse to the sacrifice and feast. This seems to have been not an unusual occurrence. A similar occasion took place when Saul was first apprised of the kingly dignity awaiting him. It was quite an event in Bethlehem that the venerable prophet should be there. The people held him in very high esteem, and felt an awe upon their spirits in his presence. His was entirely, so far as they were concerned, a religious errand. He declared his purpose thus:–I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord; sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. So Samuel desired the purification of the sanctuary to be passed by those that joined with him in the sacred ordinance. They were to wash their clothes–indicative of the spiritual cleansing of the heart which is essential to the right observance of the sacrifice. Samuel assisted in the exercise, he performed for them the priestly service, as Moses did for Israel and gob for his sons. It is meet that there should be special preparation for holy services. It is true that believers are always understood to have a right to privileges; but they have not always the fitness. They may have been backsliding; their hearts may have been polluted; they may have become entangled in worldly cares. A season of preparation is, therefore: proper and useful. How solemn it makes a communion when you go from the laver to the table, and from the robing room to the banquet hall! How sweet it makes the fellowship when you realise acceptance, and have communion with the Father, and with the Son, and with the Holy Ghost! That sacrifice at Bethlehem had its joys; and its blessed influence would long be felt by Jesse and his sons. But ere they sat down to feast upon the offered victim, Samuel had another ceremony to perform.
3. He sought a special interview with the sons of Jesse, that he might set apart one of them for a high dignity in the future history of the Hebrew commonwealth. The Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, of on the height of his stature: because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. The beautiful is not always the true nor is that real beauty which is merely outward. In man the material is superseded by the moral. The nation of highest cultivation in heathendom worshipped the beautiful to the neglect of the moral. Greek religion was aesthetic, not holy. The goodly countenance fascinates, and then too often deceives; but it is the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. The opinions of God an those of men are much contrasted here. The Lord looketh on the heart. Solemn thought! He knoweth fully all that characterises the inward and spiritual nature of man. The quaint, but spiritually-minded John Berridge thus wrote of his heart: O heart heart, what art thou? A mass of fooleries and absurdities, the vainest, craftiest, wickedest, foolishest thing in nature. Beholding himself in the mirror of Gods word, his opinion agreed with that of God. David must have had a similar view of his when he prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
4. The man after Gods heart at last, was found! The captain of the people of God, who would fulfil in his rule all the will of God, was selected. The great type and the earthly progenitor of the Messianic King, and the pledge of Israels greatness, stood out before the prophets eye. Samuels grief was assuaged. We are thus introduced to one whose personal history and typical character are of undying interest to the Church of God. Genius was born with this son of Jesse. Music and poetry were a part of his nature, and received a high development from his ardent cultivation. His harp often beguiled the loitering day or the weary night, as he watched his flocks; and, when a minstrel was sought to soothe by melodious sounds the agitated mind of Saul, whom Gods spirit forsook, the young Bethlehemite was made musician to the king. David was a poet, and sang his own Hebrew melodies to his tuneful harp. He was godly, and dedicated his music to the praise of Jehovah. He was profoundly acquainted with the word of God, and while setting many of its heroes of faith and events of grace to music, he was permitted to add largely to the volume of inspiration. Samuel rejoiced in David ca the day of his anointing, though he saw not yet all things put under him. In like manner may the believer rejoice in the Son of David and the Son of God, though he sees not yet all things put under His feet. We have a pledge of his future government of all things after Gods own heart in what He has already done. (R. Steel.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. The elders of the town trembled at his coming] They knew he was a prophet of the Lord, and they were afraid that he was now come to denounce some judgments of the Most High against their city.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The elders of the town trembled at his coming; partly because it was strange and unexpected to them, this being but an obscure town, Mic 5:2, and remote from Samuel, and therefore they justly thought there was some extraordinary reason for it; and their guilty consciences made them fear that he came to denounce some dreadful and particular judgment of God upon them; and partly lest Saul, whose heart was estranged from and incensed against Samuel, should upon this occasion conceive a jealousy of them, and a displeasure against them.
Peaceably, Heb. in or with peace; either, first, To thyself. Comest thou voluntarily, or to flee from the rage of Saul? Or, secondly, To us. Comest thou with no evil tidings to us, either from God or from Saul? The Hebrew phrase, Comest thou in peace? being as much as to say, (in our phrase,) Is all well?
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. the elders of the town trembledat his comingBeth-lehem was an obscure town, and not withinthe usual circuit of the judge. The elders were naturallyapprehensive, therefore, that his arrival was occasioned by someextraordinary reason, and that it might entail evil upon their town,in consequence of the estrangement between Samuel and the king.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Samuel did that which the Lord spake,…. He filled a horn of oil, and took an heifer with him:
and came to Bethlehem; where Jesse and his family lived, which, according to Bunting y, was sixteen miles from Ramah; though it could hardly be so much, since Ramah was six miles from Jerusalem on one side, as Bethlehem lay six miles from it on the other z;
and the elders of the town trembled at his coming; for he being now an old man, and seldom went abroad, they concluded it must be something very extraordinary that brought him thither; and they might fear that as he was a prophet of the Lord, that he was come to reprove them, or denounce some judgment upon them for their sins. The Targum is,
“the elders of the city gathered together to meet him;”
out of respect and in honour to him, and to the same sense Jarchi’s note is,
“they hasted to go out to meet him”;
see Ho 11:11
and, said comest thou peaceably? the word “said” is singular; one of the elders put this question, the chiefest of them, perhaps Jesse; and the meaning of it is, whether he came with ill news and bad tidings, or as displeased with them himself on some account or another; or with a message from God, as displeased with them; or whether he came there for his own peace and safety, to be sheltered from Saul; and which, if that was the case, might not be for their peace and good; but would draw upon them the wrath and vengeance of Saul; for they doubtless knew that there was a variance, at least a shyness, between Saul and Samuel.
y Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 125. z Vid. Hieron. de loc. Heb. fol. 89. F. & 94. B.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Trembled at his coming.The appearance of the aged seer, with the heifer and the long horn of holy oil, at first terrified the villagers of the quiet, secluded Bethlehem. The name and appearance of the old seer was well known in all the coasts of Israel. Why had he come thus suddenly among them? Had their still remote township then been the scene of some unknown and grave crime? What was happening in Israel, which brought Samuel the seer to little Bethlehem?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. The elders of the town trembled at his coming For what reason we are not told; but probably from suspicion or fear that his coming was for the purpose of punishing some sin among them, or of denouncing some bitter judgment.
Comest thou peaceably Without any hostile intention? Compare parallel passages.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(4) And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? (5) And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
The observation made upon the foregoing verses, is more confirmed in these. Wherefore should the men of Bethlehem tremble at the appearance of Samuel, had it not been that they feared the jealousy of Saul. I beg the Reader not to lose sight of the most interesting part in this history, I mean, its reference to the Lord Jesus; but remember that Bethlehem-Judah was the very spot, where in after ages, the glorious David, of whom this David was but a type, was born. And doth not the Reader recollect, that in the first appearance of Jesus, at his birth at Bethlehem, Herod, and all Jerusalem with him was troubled. Mat 2:1-3 . It is hardly necessary for me to detain the Reader with observing, that to sanctify the household or persons of a family, was among the offices of God’s servants. Our dear Lord was pleased to sanctify himself for his people. Joh 17:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
Ver. 4. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming. ] Not because they feared him, but themselves, lest guilty of some great sin, or in danger of some grievous judgment, which he came to denounce. They well knew that Samuel was no gadder abroad, and that such a guest came not to them for familiarity. Coming also so unexpectedly and so privately, they might well fear he had fled from Saul, and that evil would befall them for his sake, as it afterwards did to Nob for David’s sake.
Comest thou peaceably?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Beth-lehem = house of bread.
said. Hebrew text reads verb in singular, requiring “he, or one, said”. In this case it is the Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number), App-6. But several codices, the Sevir (App-34), Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and the two earliest printed editions, read “they said”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
trembled: 1Sa 21:1, 2Sa 6:9, 1Ki 17:18, Hos 6:5, Hos 11:10, Luk 5:8, Luk 8:37
coming: Heb. meeting
Comest: 1Ki 2:13, 2Ki 9:22, 1Ch 12:17, 1Ch 12:18
Reciprocal: 1Sa 18:12 – afraid 2Ki 9:17 – Is it peace Mat 8:34 – they besought Mat 21:10 – all Mar 5:15 – and they Luk 2:4 – unto Luk 8:47 – she came Joh 7:42 – where Act 5:13 – of 1Th 5:19 – the Spirit
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town {c} trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
(c) Afraid, lest some grievous crime had been committed, because the prophet was not wont to come there.