๐ Summary of 1 Samuel 7: ๐ A Chapter That Records Samuel’s Zeal!
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In chapters 5 and 6, the LORD showed both the Philistines and the Israelites that the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD was not something to be treated casually!
๐ Summary of 1 Samuel 7 and 8
Verse 1 of chapter 7 records that the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD was taken to:
Kiriath-jearim;
the house of Abinadab;
and Eleazar was consecrated to guard the Ark of the LORD.
The Ark remained there for 20 years.
Then the text says:
→ All the people of Israel longed for the LORD.
Samuel Appears Again
In 1 Samuel 4:1, we had already read:
“The word of Samuel came to all Israel.”
After that:
Israel was defeated by the Philistines;
Eli the priest and his two sons died;
the Ark remained in the land of the Philistines for seven months;
it was then returned through Beth-shemesh;
and finally remained in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years.
Then we find this important statement in verse 2:
“All the people of Israel longed for the LORD.”
๐ There is no detailed record of what happened during those 20 years.
But could this be telling us that, throughout those years, Samuel worked to lead the people back to the LORD?
Immediately, in verse 3, Samuel appears and speaks directly to the people, rebuking and teaching them:
๐ “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, turn your hearts to the LORD, and serve Him only!”
Samuel also tells them that if they do this:
→ The LORD will deliver them from the hands of the Philistines.
The people responded to Samuel’s words, removed their idols, and served the LORD alone.
๐ It is possible that verses 2 and 3 are recorded in an order different from the chronological order of events. ๐
This is because we often see in the Bible a way of recording events in which the result is mentioned first and the explanation follows afterward.
✔️ If so, we can understand this as showing that Samuel’s work led all the people of Israel to desire the LORD again.
✔️ There is also an interesting detail: both verse 2 and verse 3 use the expression “all the people of Israel.”
This may support this interpretation.
✔️ We can also simply read the two verses in sequence:
“All the people of Israel longed for the LORD.”
→ “Samuel taught all the people of Israel.”
When we look at the two statements by switching their order in our minds, the connection becomes even clearer! ๐
๐ Samuel Offers a Sacrifice at Mizpah, and the Philistines Appear
Samuel gathers the people at Mizpah to pray for Israel and offers a sacrifice to the LORD.
While Samuel is offering the sacrifice, the Philistines learn that the Israelites have gathered together and come to attack them.
The Israelites become very afraid when they hear the news and ask Samuel:
“Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
The text clearly conveys the great fear and anxiety of the people.
Samuel offers a whole burnt offering and cries out to the LORD on behalf of Israel.
And the LORD answers.
While Samuel is offering the burnt offering, the Philistines approach.
Then the LORD thunders with a great sound against the Philistines, throws them into confusion, and they are defeated by Israel.
The text records:
→ “The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.” (v.13)
The Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel.
The cities that the Philistines had taken were recovered, from Ekron to Gath.
๐ It is interesting to remember that Ekron was one of the Philistine cities where the Ark had been.
And the text adds:
→ There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
๐ Conclusion 1 — Samuel’s Zeal Led the People to Desire the LORD
The chapter records:
“Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.” (v.15)
“Every year”, he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.
Then he returned to his home in Ramah, where he also judged Israel.
There he also built an altar to the LORD.
All of these records are connected. (vv.16–17)
✔️ Samuel did not stop.
✔️ He traveled from place to place every year.
✔️ He continued doing this all the days of his life.
✔️ And even when he returned home to Ramah, he continued to judge Israel.
→ Therefore, we can conclude that Samuel’s zeal helped all the people of Israel to desire the LORD again.
๐ Conclusion 2 — Comparing 1 Samuel 4 and 7
1 Samuel 4:1
“The word of Samuel came to all Israel.”
At this point, Eli was still alive, shortly before his death.
1 Samuel 7:1–2
The Ark returns and remains in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years.
During this period, the text records:
“All the people of Israel longed for the LORD.”
Then we find:
1 Samuel 7:15–17
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and every year he traveled to various places to judge the people.
We can understand this as follows:
Around the time of those 20 years, there was already a people who longed for the LORD again;
and this condition continued until Samuel grew old and could no longer carry out his work as before.
๐ Conclusion 3 — God’s “Humorous Way” of Recording the Story
๐ There is something very interesting about the way chapter 7 is written.
First, God simply puts this in the text:
๐ “For 20 years.”
The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years.
But was it really necessary to record the exact period?
Then, later, we find:
๐ “Every year”
Samuel went from one place to another.
And also:
๐ “All the days of his life”
Samuel never stopped.
And, as if that were not enough, when he returned home:
๐ even in Ramah, he continued to judge Israel!
→ It is as though the text is showing us, in a very interesting way, the contrast between those 20 years and Samuel’s continual work.
I call this, in my own way, a kind of “God’s humorous way of recording things.” ๐
๐ Quiz
This is one of those riddles that, if presented to Koreans, probably half of them would get right.
๐ “๋๋ ํผ๋ฆฌ( ) ์ฌ( )์ด ”
What words should go inside the parentheses?
➡️ It seems that the content of 1 Samuel 7 was constructed in this way!
First, God simply throws this into the text:
๐ 20 years!
And then He shows Samuel working:
every year → all the days of his life → even in his own home!
๐ Twenty years simply dropped into the middle of the story!
Isn’t this an interesting way of making us notice Samuel’s tireless zeal?
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๋๊ธ ์ฐ๊ธฐ