3. (1 Sam 7:10-12) The LORD fights for Israel
Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."
The LORD thundered with a great thunder that day: Here is a wonderfully detailed desciption of the event. The lamb is burning upon the altar, with Samuel kneeling before it. The Philistines, armed for battle, appear on the plateau just below the hill of Mizpah. It seems absolutely hopeless for defenseless Israel. No doubt, many Israelites were scared and were doing everything possible to keep from fleeing. But as the enemy drew near, from heaven God thundered a great thunder! The literal translation is "The LORD thundered with a great voice." The voice of God is often compared to as the sound of thunder. ("The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic" Psalm 29:3-4. "The LORD also thundered in the heavens and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire" Psalm 18:14.)
With their hearts turned to God, God is now fighting for Israel. This was a special work of God. The Israelites heard the same thunder as the Philistines, but God only sent confusion to the Philistines. To the Israelites, God sent them a victory! Ironically, this was the stunning defeat Israel was hoping for in 1 Samuel chapter 4 when they brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle with them. If only they would have repented and sought the LORD, they could have defeated the Philistines many years before.
Side note: It is worthy to note that Baal was the god of weather. He often was pictured with a thunderbolt in his hand. When Israel turned away from their pagan worship of Baal, it was as if God was saying, "Watch this! I will show you who the real God of the weather is!"
Confused them: The Hebrew expressed here is the confusion of a sudden panic, especially used of supernatural defeats. (The same word is used in the Scripture when the Egyptians attempted to cross the Red Sea: "At the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion" Exodus 14:24. Additionally, the same word is used when Joshua and the Israelites come to rescue the people of Gilgal from the five kings of the Amorites. "So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal. And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah" Joshua 10:9-10.)
Below Beth-car: Beth-car means the house of a lamb or house of the field. Of this place, there is nothing known about it. It most likely was a Philistine fortress or high ground overhanging the road back to Philistia. It was likely a place where the fleeing Philistines could convene and defend themselves.
Then Samuel took a stone: This would have been a crude, unpolished stone, which was not prohibited by the Torah (Leviticus 26:1). A non-descript, unsculpted stone had no danger of anyone worshiping such a stone. Instead, it was simply a monument to God's incredible victory.
Ebenezer: Meaning "the stone of help", this was a memorial set up between Mizpah and Shen. Shen translates as "the tooth". The exact location is unknown, but it probably denotes a prominent rock formation. Ebenezer is also the location were the Israelites were dealt a stunning defeat and relinquished the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:1). Now this place could be remembered as a place of a great victory instead of a brutal defeat.
Thus far, the LORD has helped us: Samuel knew it was God who had given the Israelites the victory over the Philistines. He also knew there was much more which needed to be accomplished. God's past work is a pledge that if Israel remains faithful, He will help them again in the future.
4. (1 Sam 7:13-14) The success of Samuel as judge over Israel
So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
So the Philistines were subdued: The Hebrew signifies that the Philistines "were brought low." It does not imply complete subjugation, but rather the Philistines ceased from being a thorn in Israel's flesh for a short time.
The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines: After this defeat, the Philistines never recovered supremacy in the land of Canaan. There were some punishments Israel received for King Saul's disobedience, but from this time forward, the Philistines gradually lost their power. The strength of Israel steadily increased until King David subdued the Philistines completely and made them forced labor like many of the other Canaanite races.
Side note: It is interesting to compare the two lifelong Nazirites, Samson and Samuel. Both men were called to judge Israel and lead them to victory over the Philistines. Samuel was not a military man, but he was just as successful (or perhaps even more successful) than Israel's best generals because the LORD fought for Samuel. Samson, on the other hand, loved woman and seemed to always be compromising his status as a Nazirite. Samson had tremendous physical strength while Samuel seems to be humble and spiritually minded. Samuel seems so much weaker than Samson. Yet, who had the more successful campaign leading Israel to victory? God shows us yet again that great victory is "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
The cities: The immediate result of God's great conquest at Ebenezer was the restoration of towns and villages which of late had fallen into the hands of the Philistines.
From Ekron even unto Gath: The Philistine cities lie on the border with the tribe of Dan. It is doubtful the actual cities of Ekron and Gath were occupied by the Israelites. Instead, it is more likely that this expression indicates the direction and boundary limits in which the Israelites recovered their lost territory.
The Amorites: The Amorites were the most powerful of the Canaanite tribes. The inclusion of this phrase indicates that in the glorious days of the restoration of Israel under the leadership of Samuel, not only were the Philistines of the coast kept in check and gradually subdued, but the Canaanite tribes of the interior of the land submitted peacefully to Israel as well.
5. (1 Sam 7:15-17) Samuel's service as judge
Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. Then his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD.
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life: Samuel's judgeship and influence on Israel only ended with his life. For a very long period of time--probably for at least 20 years after the triumphal victory of the Israelites over the Philistines at Ebenezer--Samuel held chief authority over Israel. Samuel's official power as judge waned after the children of Israel cried out for a king. Advanced in years, Samuel voluntarily stepped aside to allow the new king, Saul, to rule over Israel. However, Samuel's influence remained, and his authority, whenever he chose to exercise it, seems to have continued undiminished. On certain occasions such as putting to death Agag, the king of the Amalekites, King Saul and all of Israel submit to Samuel's will (See 1 Samuel 15:33).
On circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah: These three cities are located in the southern part of Israel in the tribe of Benjamin. It appears Samuel's strongest influence was in the southern tribes. Perhaps this is an indication of the future rebellion of the northern tribes a few generations later which lead to a split in the kingdom and the rise to power of King Jeroboam over the northern tribes. Or perhaps Samuel was growing old, and Samuel was not able to travel much. These three cities could be done in a circular route of about 15 miles. Samuel's hometown of Ramah is located only a stone's throw away from Mizpah (to the south) and Bethel (to the east).
His return was to Ramah: I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to read Samuel goes back to his place of birth. In 1 Samuel 2:21, we learn that the LORD blesses Hannah (Samuel's mother) with three sons and two daughters. I cannot help but imagine after Samuel spending his childhood ministering before the LORD at Shiloh, the joy and fun times he had visiting his brothers and sisters. (I also sincerely hope that Hannah lived a long life and was able to see her son prosper. There is also a wicked part of me that hopes Hannah was able to flaunt the success of her son before her husband's other wife (and Hannah's adversary), Peninnah. The conversation: Hannah: "Oh look Peninnuel! Here comes my son Samuel. Did you know he prayed before the LORD, and the LORD heard him and delivered the Philistines into Israel's hands? Samuel is such a special son." Peninnah remains silent.)
And he built an altar there to the LORD: Samuel follows the custom of the patriarchs. It must be remembered that at this time in history, there was no formal seat of worship, where the high priest, priests and Levites served. The Ark was being kept in private custody at Kiriath-jearim. There are no recorded religious observances at Kiriath-jearim. Samuel building an altar at Ramah allowed him as well as the rest of Israel to make sacrifices to the LORD God.
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