PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel
Robert Payne Smith [1818-1895] · 500,296 words · 562 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 1
'I'HE PULPIT CO~IMENT ARY, EDITED BT T1IB VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OJ' GLOUOUTEB; AND BY TRI REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, U.A. WlTB INTRODUCTIONS BY TBB VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. BEV. CANON G.…
1,148 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 2
which usually accompanied the accesAion of an Oriental king. ·what is really remarkable is that Eli should be Israel's civil ruler. If he was strong enough to take this, no one would dispute with him the priesthood. And here- Scripture is absolutely silent. The whole tone, nevertheless, of the history sets Israel b…
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behind them nothing more lasting than a J onah's gourd. Samuel WBS too wi11a to trust to mere personal influence. If Israel was to be saved, it must be by institutions which would daily exercise their pressure, and push the people upward to a higher level. He seems to have studied the past history of his nation care…
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never wanting for high service both at court and throughout the land. Other rern!Ls followed of which the whole world reaps the benefit. The gifb of e. series of inspired men would have been impossible had Israel continued in the state of barbarous ignorance into which it had sunk in the time of the Judges. Brave :…
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lltrength, because, alike in national and religious life, it is only by the exercise of a moral choice that human nature can advance upward. Samuel was labour- ing for Israel's gr:iwth in all that was good, and the only king of whom he could approve was one under whom Israel would be free to work out its own destiny…
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l&ddened by the death of his beloved but unfilial son. The question thus arises u to what were the materials at the disposal of the compiler of these Books. § 3. MATERIALS, First then end foremost there were the Acts or Memoirs of Samuel himself. For the words of 1 Chron. xxix. 29 literally are, "And the Acts (or mat…
1,111 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 7
besides these there are one or two other facts not so genera.Uy referred to, o.nd which may be worth noting. Thus, then, we ho.ve seen that the compiler places six narratives at the end' of the second Book because, excepting David's "last words," there was nothing in them to show to what period of his reign they be…
1,209 wordsSECTION 8The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 8
EXPOSITION. is a common one among the Kohathites, to CHAPTER I. which division of the sons of Levi Samuel THE GENEALOGY AND BIRTHPLACE OF belonged. SAMUEL (vcrs. 1-8). Ver. 1.-There was a The prophet's birthplace was Ramathaim· certain man of Ramathaim-Zophim. Though Zophim, no doubt the Ramah which was Samuel belon…
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an Ephroimitc, no doubt because before Zuph the phrase was one of long standing shortened cmigrn'.cd t.l_ie family had belonged to Eph- down by co:nstant use. And yet, though rn1m, it bcmg npparently the practice to found 260 times iu the Bible this is the reckm1 LcYitcs as pertaining to the tribes to first place wh…
1,024 wordsSECTION 10The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 10
thonuh, even nfter the massacres 11t Shiloh leave her without this mark of affection), and Nob, hiR grandson Ahimelech was still though Jehovah had shut up her womb." powerful (1 Chrnn. xxiv. 3), ancl one of his These portions were of course taken from <lcsccnclnnts returned from Babylon as jointly those parts of the v…
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the reference here to a II certain man," whose life was chiefly spent during the era covered by the latter part of the Dook of Judges, so generally connecting links may be found. II. The CONSERVATION AND DISCIPLINE OF THE CHOSEN RACE are subservient to the development of the Divine purpose in Christ. History is the…
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when associated with the unfolding of high spiritual purposes. It was the connection .0 f Samuel with Christ's glorious kingdom that linked a "certain man " and his wife with the same, and so raised them from obscurity. Spiritual uses give real value to thi11gs. The frail and insignificant becomes enduring and import…
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Ill. INTENSE GRIEF IS NATURAL ON THE DLIGRTING OF A SUPREME ROPE. Every one must see the naturalness of Hannah's gTief. The ordinary course of nature fosters hope; it is the basis of reasonable expectations. A well-balanced mind lives !n stron_g sympathy _with n~ture's way~, for ~hey are _of God, and nlwnys benefice…
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Vera. 1-8. (RAMAH.)-A Hebrew family. The family is a Divine institution. It is the most ancient, most needful, and most enduring form of society; and, in proportion as it ac·cords with the plan of its original constitution, it is productive of most beneficent effects, both temporal and spiritual, to the individual and …
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la~tlul portion, whilst the rest was give1~ back_t~ the worshipper. tl)at he and his family 1~11s-ht feast on it before the ~or<l._ Their festi~1ty "'.as-1. Religious. It was the fes• tinty of those who were rcce1:ed mto communion ,~1th God. They were guests at his table, an<l OYerslrndowed by Ins presence. It 1s sa…
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good. In her trouble Hannah was led to pray fervently, and her prayer was tmswered; sorrowing gave place to rejoicing; the family was benefited; and tho people of God w~re !freatly bl~~secl. So, in his wonderful working, God "turned the -curse into a blessmg (Neh. xm. 2).-D. Ver. 3. (SBILOH.)-Public worship. Worship…
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Vers. 3, 11. (SFITLOH.)-The Lord oflwsts. There is no subject more worthy of study than the nature and character of God. His perfections are often called his Name~ and his Name is expressed by various words, all of which are significant. They are- not merely designations, but also descriptions. The word God is commo…
1,020 wordsSECTION 18The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 18
EXPOSITION. HANNAH's PRAYER FOil A SON (nrs. 9- grief before God. There Eli, th~ priest, i. e. 18). Ver. 9.- After they had eaten . .. after the high priest, as in Num. :uvi. l ; xxvii. 2, they had drunk. The Hebrtw favours the was seated upon, not a seat, but the ponti- translation, "Arter she had eaten in Shilol1, f…
1,260 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 19
tion, but the chief Jewish authorities make solemn dedication of Samuel to .Jehovah'a the time one yoar shorter. At three years service, wliile the other two were for Elkanah's old n child in the East would cease to be usual yearly sacrifice, and the thank offering troublesome;· but besides this, there was an which he …
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Suc_h is the proper i~sue of all trials w_hen sanctified. There is no morose repining, ~o mtcrnal war agamst the Supreme \Viii, no utter abandonment to despair, no resting m the sympathy and counsel, 0r even prayers, of the Church ; the soul wants God :inrl, as ne,·er before, carries its load straight to him. ' II …
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i<lcal of life attained to by this "sorrowful wom'.ln ". bespe~ks the thoroughness of the discipline through winch she passed. A young life habituated to the calm and -elevating influences of the sanctuary, s?pn:rated fr_om the sad and sorrow-pr_oducing <Jvils of the nge, untouched by the artificial appliances of man,…
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0!1twar<l appearnnC'es. The heart is too deep to be penetrated by aid of occnsionnt ~1gns, for the same outward aC'tion may proceed from diverse internal motions. 2. Strong tendency in some persons to estimate others by the standard of their own C'XpC'rienC'e. The area of one man's life may be much broader than that…
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2. Elkanah acr1uiesces in her vow, and allows her will in respect of time and method 01' perfecting it. 3. A united and solemn surrender of Samuel to his life work. I. QUALIFIED WIFELY INDEPENDENCE. Although Elkanah knew his wife's great sorrow, yet in the matters connected with its removal and in the subsequent trans…
951 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 24
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. ~(iii.~)- (S9:rLOH. )-Tlie te!i~ple of the !,ord_. . Most of the relig·ious ideas and ~XJ?re~s10ns "'.1th wh1cl~ we arc. fam1har had their ongm fa! back in distant ages; and 1t 1s mterestmg and mstructive to trace them to their sourc·e and mark their alteration and expansion in the…
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the heavenly tabernacle and temple (Rev. xxi. 3). Above all things, seek to be in tlie b1tilding which God is rearing for his habitation, and for an everlasting monu- ment to his praise.-D. Vera. 9-13. (SHILOH.)-E.ffectital prayer. Prayer is converse with God. The general principles which are necessary that it may be…
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Vers. 11 (21, 23, 28). (SHILOH.)-Vows. "And she vowed a vow." The first recorded instance of a religious vow is that of Jacob (Gen. x:xviii. 20; xx:xi. 13). Under a sense of obligation to God, he entered into a spontaneous and solemn engagement: before him to do what he believed would be pleasing in his sight, joini…
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invisible and eternal nigh, teaching dependence on God, and exciting desire for bis help (Isa. !xvi. 13, 14). 2. Singnlar prosperity-unexpected recovery from illness, extraordinary deliverance from danger, unwontcd providential and spiritual benefits, temporal success. 3. Sp,;ritual exercises-in public worship, private…
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• no uncommon thing at the tabernacle in those corrupt times. Bue he did not "judge righteously'' (John vii. 24). Learn-1. That apparent gTound for censure is often found on inquiry to be really groundless. Therefore there should be proof ~efor~ 1:eproof. 2. That ~he most excell~nt are often the most misjudged, espe…
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well 11s rcmecly the evil wrought by the sons of Eli, and work o. great deliverance for !Hrnel. I. PIOUS EMOTION HARSHLY CENSURED, If Hannah's prayer had been mocked by the profane, it had not surprised her; but this was her trial, that the venerable priest, whose duty it was to recognise and encourage religious aspir…
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Yers. 19--:28. (RAMArr and SHILOH.):-Samuel's birtli and infancy. (Rejerences- 1 Chron. xx1x. 29, "the seer;" Ps. xc1x. 9; Jer. xv. 1 ; Acts iii. 24; xiii. 20 • Heb. xii. 32; Apoc. Ecclus. xlvi. 13-20.) Consolation and hope were from th'e first associate~ with _the birth of c\1ildren (Gen. iii. 15; iv. 1, 25; v. 29; xx…
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with respect to the Divine word-I. Confidence in its truth. He believed (1) that it was !tis word which had been uttered by the high priest (ver. 17); (2) that its Divine origin and foithfulness had been in part confirmed by his own act (ver. 20); and (3) that it would be completely established by his bringing about th…
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CHAPTER II. P!· being intensil"C, nnd signifying every kmd of knowledge. As too he weighs and HANNAH';; SO~G OF rRAISE (vcrs. l-'-' judges human actions, how can men venture 10 ). Yer. 1. -And Hannah prayed and to· talk so arrogantly before him, lit. so said. Like the Magnificat, Hannah's hymn prowlly, proudly. The…
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dishonolll' to his poverty. To set might court of law, and the whole verse kecpi,w more eorrectly be. trnnslate<l _to make th_em the administration of justice in view. It ~it , sitting, especmlly on a rmse<l seat, being proceeds, " Upon him he shall thunder in a ~nrk of honour among Orientals, who heaven;" i. e. Jeh…
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rc>cog:ni~<'<l ns tile author of the $Teat salvation. 3._ Und~r Divine inspiration Hanna!~ ~<'C's m her own personal expenencc a type of vanous tnumphs which God achieves• for h_is people. f·. She is conscion~ of an overwhelming joy in her own deliverance, nnd 111 the prens1011 of future trrnrnphs of the Church. 5. …
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11 my Saviour." But the relationship to his chosen One grows closer and dearer 11s the uges roll on. What shall it be at laBt l And what joy will it awaken l Also, the condition of sharing in this joy is twofold, being personally a saved one, and cherishing full sympathy with "his King." Hannah, blesAed with a great…
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EC'l,es that they "kiss the Son," lest they perish, "while his wrath is kindled but a little." V. IN\"OLYINO GREAT REV_ERSIONS: i:'rov_idence vindicated itself for former ap• rarcntly unequal and undesirable d1stnbut10ns of favour by breaking the bows of the strong and giving strength to the feeble; by causing the …
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swift and awe-in6piring forces (Pa. ii.) to shatter all opposition, and ultimately insure a peaceful reign over mankind. It was some years before Peninnah's ground of annoyance to Hannah was removed, and the lowly one waa raised to joy and full satisfaction ; so, proportionately to the vaster deliverance to be wrought …
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bel,alf; and it is "because" of this that she utters aloud her thanksg·iving nnd praise. Her soul with all its powers, like a harp of many strings, touche<l by the Divine Spirit, gives forth exquisite music. "The Divinely-inspired song of Hannah is like a gol?en key f?r the interpretati?~ of the whole book" (Wordsworth…
870 wordsSECTION 39The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 39
human actions. He determines how far they may go before they are effectuall:, checked by the manifestation of his power and wisdom (Thenius). "By strength shall no man prevail." He also forms a just estimate of their moral worth, and gives to every man his due reward. His righteousness and justice, as well as his stren…
1,123 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 40
Yers. 1-10.-Tlte prayer-song of Hannali. In her prayer of asking Hannah wns intent not merely on having a child, but on giving to the service of God a priestt and to the go,ernment of Israel a judg·e, very different from the sons of Eli-a Kazarite, a second and a better Samson. No wonder, then, that when she brought…
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51-53). Of the eleva.tion of tl,e despised, celebrated here and in Ps. cxiii., how many illustrations in ea.creel story I ,Joseph, Moses, Gideon, before the time of Hannah; a.nd afterwards, David, and the great Son of David, the Man Christ Jesus, and his Galilean apostles. This fact is not to encourage contempt of, or …
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inrornparabkness of God, ---:-' ·works,' vol. iv.). Expect not true or lasting a11tia- fact1on from any created obJect. " Cease ye from man " (Isa. ii. 22). Fear him not (Isa. h. 12, 13). • III. H18 RELATION TO HIS rEOPLE. "Our God." His people are those who live ~n direc_t fello\\·ship ":ith hi.m, and show the realit…
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have in them a moral element; to the actions of every inrlividnal soul (for each soul stands before him in its separate personality, bearing its own burden of responsibility and of sin, and is deult with by him as though there were no other) ; and to every one of its actions, however apparently insignificant, though it…
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Ver. 10. (SHILOH. )-The King Me,ssiah. The last word of the song of Hannah is the first :n~ntion of the Lord's Anointed, Messiah, Christ 1. Her language was a direct pred1ct10n of_ the appoint~~nt o~ a ~heocrntic king, fo~ which S~muel pr~parocl. the way, an~ w~nch, under D1vme d1rect10n, he was the clue£ agent m e:…
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EXPOSITION. SAMUEL'S MINISTRATIONS AT SHILOH But neither does custom. give the sense; for {vers. 11-21). Ver. 11.-The child did the Heh. has not priest's (sing.) as the A. V., minister; Left by his parents at Shiloh, but of the prii!$ts, of all priests generally, and Samuel ministered unto the Lord ; that is, not of …
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whitr linen, wns probably thnt wom by the Eu's COMrLICITY IN THE 81~8 OF ms SONS LrYi tcs in their ordinary ministrations ; for (w,rs. 22-26). Ver. 22. -Eli . . . heo.rd the ephod of the priests was richer both in all that his sons did. 'l'o the profanity nnd matc1ial and colour (Exod. xxviii. 6-8). As greed describe…
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ft is rarely possible to transfer to another who is your opponent, will also punish you. Jnngunge the force of passages in which The same idea is found in Job ix. 33. the sense depends upon the terms in the Naturally to so mild a remonstrance, all(t original having a. double meaning. The founded upon so low a view of f…
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is not poss!hlr t'.' tracf> tlw linC's an;l, say wlH'rc parental responsibility ends and the TC'spons1b1hty ut 1he dnkl hcgms. l he two factors are to be reco-'niscd. l\lorcovcr anterior physical causes, operating pe~-1!iciously throug!1 ancestirs, may act dctri~ mentally on the mental and moral cond1t10n. But allow…
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albeit religious, grad11ally issues in alienation of sons from home interests and com- mittal to friendsliips evil in tendency. The charm of novelty is powerful where homo life is rendered dull through inattention to the tastes and enjoyments of the young, and lience consent is given to enticing sinners. If, in any ins…
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goodness, also aggravates their guilt when sin is committed. Power, when used Rinfully, means magnified sin. A professed Christian sinks relatively very low when h~ does "·hat other men do. A pastor by one act may come under a condemnation from which on earth he will ne,·er recoYer. A judge who sells justice is the …
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sanctuary would secure. 3. The mother could thus evince her freedom, from mere 11elfah gratification in seeking o. child from the Lord, and at the same time do all withi!l her pow_er to advanre the coming kingdom .. 4. There was ~ secret providew:e in tins preparing the way £or the .fir/ft great /ftep m the reformatio…
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tl1eir loved ones, and they sorely need such care in this sinful world. 2. The impre,<sive teacliing imparted. Surely Samuel was not placed in the house of the Lord without much teaching suited to his capacity as to the holy life he was to live. It is something to make a child believe that he is the Lord's, to see t…
876 wordsSECTION 53The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 53
with God's merciful purposes to mankind, saw in her son the man of the future, tho defender of the faith, the restorer of pure worship, the consecrated spirit which hns spiritual right to do priestly work, and it was rest to her soul to express this faith not by words which might be contradicted, but by a solemn act fu…
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Vers. 20, 21. - Solid character. The facts are-1. Eli forms a fovourable estimate of the cond11ct and character of Elkanah and Hannah. 2. God enriches them ~-ith several children. 3. Samuel advances in years and gains in repute. 4. The sons of Eli, becoming more dissolute, are rebuked by their father. 'rime had gra…
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wherewith she and her husband had, during the periorl coverer!, server! Gori in hc,me nnd in pnblic life, 11s also by the general tenr,r of their live,,-was crowned with a great increase of domestic joy. The home of Hannah emptied for Gori became full. The surrendered child was returned in fivefold form. The long, p…
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vin,lica!ion of justice and the maintenance of order. Moral weakness was the sin of Eli. The imperious claims of God, of public welfare, of religious purity appealed to the sense of duty in vain, because of some personal sentiment or laclc' of resolu- tion. (?ases oft?~ arise_ in nat_ional affai_rs, Church disciplin…
888 wordsSECTION 57The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 57
Ver. 11. (SBILOH.)-Samuel's 'cliildhood and growtli. "And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest." "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favom both with tl!e Lord, and also with men" (ver. 26). (Ch. i. 24; ii. 18, 19, 21 ; iii. I.) "Gi"eat is the reverence due to children." It is said of an e…
777 wordsSECTION 58The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 58
impos~ible to k_ecp n_ child :11togethcr f:om the sight of vice. External safeg·uards arc no pro_tect10n without mte!·nal punty. On the other lrnnrl, outward circum- stnnces ":luch are na~urally perilous have ofte? TI? effect on internal purity, except to make 1t more decided and robust. "The Jarrmg contrast which h…
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II. OFFICIAL RODDERY OF MEN (vers. 13, 14). Not satisfied with the liberal por- tions of the peace offerings which were legally assigned to them (the breast and &boulder), they claimed other and larger portions, to which they were not entitled, and robbed the people for the gratification of their own appetites. What…
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Yers. 22-25. (Smr.oH. )-Ineftective reproof. A man may possess many amiable qnalities, and be, on the whole, a good man, and yet be marked by some defect which mars his character, prcYents his usefulness, and makes him the unintentional cause of much mischief. Such a man was Eli. Of his early life nothing· is record…
821 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.