2:1-11. Hannah and Yehovah.

(Repeated Alternation).

E  e¹  1,2. Yehovah. Holiness.
    f¹  3-. Enemies. Pride broken.
   e²  -3. Yehovah. Knowledge.
    f²  4,5. Enemies.Weapons broken.
   e³  6-9. Yehovah. Grace.
    f³  10-. Enemies. Themselves broken.
   e4  -10. Yehovah. Grace.

about 1048 B.C.

2)

 3: Talk no more so exceeding proudly (this is the true rendering of the Fig. Epizeuxis. Heb. "proudly proudly"); let not (the latter of two or more negatives not necessary in Heb. An Ellipsis must be supplied, as here. See Gen.2:6) arrogancy come out of your mouth:

for the Lord (Yehovah) is a GOD (El) of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. (Use God's Word as a scale)

 4: The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
 5: They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren has born seven (prophecy. See Rom. 11); and she that has many sons is waxed feeble.

 6: The Lord (Yehovah) kills, and makes alive (He, God, puts the soul in the embryo): He brings down to the grave (Heb. sheõl), and brings up.
 7: The Lord (Yehovah) makes poor, and makes rich: He brings low, and lifts up.
 8: He raises up the poor (i.e. the oppressed) out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory (once you accept God's Word you are rich): for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's (Yehovah's) (= that which is set fast. See Job 38), and He has set the world upon them.
 9: He will keep the feet of His saints, and the lawless shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

 10: The adversaries of the Lord (Yehovah) shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven (see 7:10) shall He thunder upon them: The Lord (Yehovah) shall judge the ends of the earth; (God will do it!)

and He shall give strength to His king (first occ. Cp. Ps.2:6), and exalt the horn of His Messiah.” (the first occ. as used of Christ. Sept. reads "Christos" = Christ = Messiah = The Annointed One of Yah [God])

 11: And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the youth did minister to the Lord (Yehovah) before Eli the priest.

 12: Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial (no god); they knew not the Lord (Yehovah).
 13: And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; (this is not God's law. These priest were crooks)
 14: And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself (robbing the offerers of their own portion. See Lev.7:31-35. Deut.18:3). So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came to that place.
 15: Also before they (i.e. not the offerer, but the priest for him) burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, “Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.” (They were going the extra mile to rip the people off. This was contrary to Lev.3:16; 7:23,25,30,31)
 16: And if any man said to him, “Let them not fail to burn (as incense) the fat presently (= now, immedately,without delay, at once), and then take as much as you desires;” then he would answer, “Nay; but you shall give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.” (True men or women of God do not beg. These priests decieved the people by changing God's Word. Do you recognize it when they do it today?)
 17: Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great beforethe Lord (Yehovah): for men abhorred the offering of the Lord (Yehovah).

C³  g  18. Samuel. Ministration.
     h  i  19. Parents' yearly visit.
         k  20-. Eli's blessing.
     h  i  -20. Parents' return.
         k  21-. Yehovah's visitation.
    g  -21. Samuel. Growth.

 18: But Samuel ministered before the Lord (Yehovah), being a youth, girded with a linen ephod (not the High Priest's, but a simple linen robe of the ordinary priests and Levites and others. 1 Sam.22:18. 2 Sam.6:14. Cp. Ex.28:42. Lev.6:10).

 19: Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

 20: And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “The Lord (Yehovah) give you seed of this woman for the great gift to the Lord (Yehovah).”

1048 to 1044 B.C.

And they went to their own home.

 21: And the Lord (Yehovah) visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters (#5 = Grace, which is what Hannah means).

And the youth Samuel grew before the Lord (Yehovah).

 22: Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting of the congregation. (virgins and widows, temple servants)
 23: And he said to them, “Why do you all do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this People.
 24: Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear (Heb. has the disjunctive accent on this word, emphasising the guilt of Hophni and Phinehas as (1) a public scandal [v.23]; (2) a cause of stumbling [v.24]; (3) a sin against Yehovah [v.25]): you all make the Lord's (Yehovah's) People to transgress (or cry out). (they, the People, were crying out against the church because of these priests)
 25: If one man sin against another, The Judge (= God = Elohim) shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord (Yehovah), who shall intreat for him?” Notwithstanding they listened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord (Yehovah) would slay them.
 26: And the youth Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord (Yehovah), and also with men. (you can see here that Samuel is a type of savior)

D4  l¹  27,28. Election of priestly order.
     m¹  29. Provocation of Eli's sons.
    l²  30-. Election of Eli.
     m²  -30-34. Rejection of El's sons.
    l³  35,36. Election of Samuel.

 27: And there came a man of God to Eli (i.e. a prophet. See Deut.33:1. Cp. Judg.13:6. Probably the Angel of God), and said to him, “Thus says the Lord (Yehovah), ‘I did indeed plainly reveal Myself to the house of your father, when they were (Sept. read "were servants". Cp. Deut.5:6) in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? (Aaron as well as Moses was in Pharaoh's house. See Ex.4:27)
 28: And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? and did I give to the house of your father (i.e. Aaron. Ex.29:27,28. Lev.10:14) all the offerings made by fire of the sons of Israel?

 29: Wherefore kick you all at My sacrifice and at My gift offering (cp. Deut.32:15), which I have commanded in My habitation; and honour your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My People?’

 30: Wherefore the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel says, ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before Me for ever:’

but now the Lord (Yehovah) says, ‘Be it far from Me; for them that honour Me I will honour (God always takes care of His own), and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
 31: Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your seed (God will cut off 3 things from Eli and his sons [vv.31-36] (1) Judgeship from the prists; (2) slay his sons; (3) a king is going to take over), and the seed of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
 32: And you shall see an enemy in My habitation (cp. Ps.78:60-64), in all the wealth which God (Elohim) shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in your house for ever. (they are going to look in envy)
 33: And the man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from My altar, shall be to consume thine (Sept. reads "his") eyes, and to grieve your soul: and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age (Sept. reads "with the sword of men").
 34: And this shall be a sign to you, that shall come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them (see 4:11. No one gets away with conning God).

 35: And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in My soul and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before My anointed for ever. (This verse refers to Messiah)
 36: And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in your house shall come and crouch to him (i.e. to the Anointed [king] of v.10: already pointing to the High Priest as being no longer the judge, but subordinate to the king) for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, ‘Put me, I pray you, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.’ ’ ” (the priests will have to beg the king)

C5  n  1. Samuel, and the word of Yehovah.
     o  p¹  2-5. His first call.
        p²  6. His second call.
    n  7. Samuel, and the word of Yehovah.
     o  p³  8,9. His third call.
        p4  10. His fourth call.

 1: And the youth Samuel ministered to the Lord (Yehovah) before Eli. And the word of the Lord (Yehovah) had come to be precious in those days; there was no open vision. (Heb. yãkar = heavy [in price], rare. See Amos 8:11. Note the 5 precious things in O.T.: the word of God; redemption [Ps.49:8]; the death of His saints [Ps.72:14; 116:15]; the lips of knowledge [Prov.20:15]; the thoughts of God [Ps. 139:17]. See note on the 5 in the N.T. [Matt.26:7] )

1044 to 1040 B.C.

 2: And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see clearly;
 3: And before the lamp of God (Elohim) (the seven-branched candlestick) went out in the temple (i.e. the tabernacle. See 1:9) of the Lord (Yehovah), where the ark of God (Elohim) was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
 4: That the Lord (Yehovah) called Samuel: and he answered, “Here am I.” (= Behold me)
 5: And he ran to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you called me.” And he said, “I called not; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

 6: And the Lord (Yehovah) called yet again, “Samuel.” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you did call me.” And he answered, “I called not, my son; lie down again.”

 7: Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord (Yehovah), neither was the word of the Lord (Yehovah) yet revealed to him.

 8: And the Lord (Yehovah) called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you did call me.” And Eli perceived that the Lord (Yehovah) had called the child.
 9: Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord (Yehovah); for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 10: And the Lord (Yehovah) came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” (for the 10 reduplications see Gen.22:11) Then Samuel answered, “Speak; for Your servant hears.”

D5  q¹  11-14. Eli. Threatenig.
     r¹  15. Samuel's fear.
    q²  16,17. El. Demand.
     r²  18-. Samuel. Compliance.
    q³  -18. Eli. Submission.

 11: And the Lord (Yehovah) said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that hears it shall tingle (= be in astonishment. Cp. 2 Kings 21:12. Jer.19:3).
 12: In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
 13: For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile (this is one of the 18 emendations of the Sõpherim, on their own confession. By omitting one letter they changed this, from a mistaken sense of reverence. The primitive text, preserved in the Sept., stood, "his sons cursed God"), and he restrained them not (Eli didn't disciplne his sons).
 14: And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.” (He, Eli, can't cover it up.)

 15: And Samuel lay until the morning (the copiest's eye, in going back to this word, went to the word at the end of the next sentence, and thus omitted “and rose up early in the morning”. These words are preserved in the Sept.), and opened the doors of the house of the Lord (Yehovah). And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

 16: Then Eli called Samuel, and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here am I.”
 17: And he said, “What is the word that the Lord (Yehovah) has said to you? I pray you hide it not from me: God (Elohim) do so to you, and more also, if you hide any thing from me of all the things that He said to you.”

 18: And Samuel told him every particle (every bit. Heb. "all the words"), and hid nothing from him.

And he said, “It is the Lord (Yehovah): let Him do what seem to Him good.”

C6  s  3:19. Samuel. Yehovah with him.
     t  3:20. Israel. Acknowledgement.
    s  3:21. Samuel. Yehovah's revelation to him.
     t  4:1-. Israel. Submission.

 19: And Samuel grew, and the Lord (Yehovah) was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground (God's Word was held priceless).
 20: And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba (= oath of the seven. See 2:5) knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord (Yehovah) (Samuel was the first of "the prophets" and the last of the judges/rulers, preparing the way for the change of government).
 21: And the Lord (Yehovah) appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord (Yehovah) revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by (or, according to) the word of Yehovah.

4)

B  u  4:-1-. Israel in camp of war.
    v  4:-1. Philistines.
     w  4:2. First battle, and result.
   u  4:3-5. Israel in camp of war.
    v  4:6-9. Philistines.
     w  4:10–7:2. Second battle, and result.

Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer (= Stone of help. So called in anticipation of Samuel's victory 20 years later [7:2]):

and the Philistines pitched in Aphek (= Fortress. Josh.15:53).

 2: And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. (They, Israel, forgot to go to God to ask if it was OK! They tried to do it themselves)

 3: And when the People were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord (Yehovah) smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord (Yehovah) out of Shiloh to us, that, when it comes among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemy.” (They made a religion out of it. Didn't ask God again if this was OK!)
 4: So the People sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from that the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Sabaioth) (see 1:3), Which dwells between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of Elohim (marking His relationship wth his creatures). (Now the priests that were ripping the people off show up!)
 5: And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord (Yehovah) came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

 6: And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What is the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they understood that the ark of the Lord (Yehovah) was come into the camp.
 7: And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God (Elohim) is come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore. (where did this fear come from? it wasn't like this the day before)
 8: Woe to us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods themselves that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
 9: Be strong, and become men (Heb. verb hãyãh, to become; as "was" should be rendered in Gen.1:2. Use this as an example, i.e. let the spirit of calm come over you in rough times), O all you Philistines, that you all be not servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you: become men, and fight.”

w  G  4:10. Israel. Defeat.
    H  4:11. Arktaken to Pjilistines.
   G  4:12-22. Israel. Report of defeat.
    H  5:1–7:2. Ark in captivity to Philistines.

 10: And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent (no one in Israel stopped to think): and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

 11: And the ark of God (Elohim) was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

G  x¹  12. Fugitive coes to Shiloh.
    y¹  13-. Eli's fear for Ark.
   x²  -13. Fugitive comes to people.
    y²  14-. Eli's alarm for Ark.
   x³  -14. Fugitive comes to Eli.
    y³  15-18. Eli's death.
   x4  19-. Tidings comes to son's wife.
    y4  -19-22. Her death.

 12: And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn, and with earth upon his head. (every sign of sadness)

 13: And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God (Elohim) (Eli was a good man).

And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

 14: And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What means the noise of this tumult?”

And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

 15: Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set (as in 1 Kings 14:4), that he could not see (1 of the 9 casses of blindness. See Gen.19:11).
 16: And the man said to Eli, “I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army.” And he said, “What is there done, my son?”
 17: And the messenger answered and said, “Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God (Elohim) is taken.(Eli was a good man, but just couldn't discipline anyone. God will bless you when you bring Him into your life. But if there is no disciple you will fall by the wayside)
 18: And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God (Elohim), that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had ruled Israel forty years.

 19: And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God (Elohim) was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead,

she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came suddenly upon her.
 20: And at the time of her death the women that stood by her said to her, “Fear not; for you have born a son.” But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
 21: And she named the child I-chabod (Where is the glory?), saying, “The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God (Elohim) was taken, and because of the death of her father in law and her husband.”
 22: And she said, “The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God (Elohim) is taken.”

H  J  a  5:1-22. Captivity in Philistia.
       b  6:1. Duration. Seven months.
        K  6:2-16. Reoval to Beth-shemesh.
         L  6:17,18. Lords of Philistines.
        K  6:19,20. Judgment at Beth-shemesh.
   J  a  6:21–7:1. Captivity of Ark ended.
       b  7:2. Duration. 20 years.

a  c¹  1. From Eben-ezer to Ashdod.
    d¹  2-6. Judgment on Ashdodites.
   c²  7,8. From Ashdod to Gath.
    d²  9. Judgment on Gadites.
   c³  10-. From Gath to Ekron.
    d³  -10-12. Judgment on Ekronites.

5)

 2: When the Philistines took the ark of God (Elohim), they brought it into the house of Dagon (= great fish. This is the same word as used when God greated the great fish to swallow Jonah), and set it by Dagon.
 3: And when they of Ashdod arose early on the next day and entred into the house of Dagon, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord (Yehovah) (God was speaking to the heathens. EVERYONE will bow down to Yehovah). And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
 4: And when they arose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord (Yehovah); and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him (the hands and feet being gone, only Dagon [the fish part] remained).
 5: Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
 6: But the hand of the Lord (Yehovah) was heavy upon them of Ashdod (Fig., put for the judgments inflicted by it), and He destroyed them, and smote them with hemroids (see Deut.28:27), even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

 7: And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel shall not abide with us: for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.”
 8: They sent therefore and gathered all the princes of the Philistines to them (see Josh.13:3), and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel be carried about to Gath.” (= a wine-press) And they carried the ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel about to that place.

 9: And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord (Yehovah) was against the city with a very great destruction: and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemroids in their secret parts.

 10: Therefore they sent the ark of God (Elohim) to Ekron (= torn up by the roots; emigration).

And it came to pass, as the ark of God (Elohim) came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought about the ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.”
 11: So they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God (Elohim) of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people:” for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God (Elohim) was very heavy there.
 12: And the men that died not were smitten with the hemroids: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.