Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. III.

Vers. 1. ANd the child Samuel ministred unto the Lord before Eli:] See the note, chap. 2.11.

Vers. 3. And the word of the Lord was precious in those dayes, &c.] That is, rare; for so this word is used elsewhere, Esa. 13.12. I will make a man more pre∣cious then fine gold: and so it is explained here in the following clause, The word of the Lord was precious in those dayes, there was no open vision: That is, there was not a known Prophet in those dayes, there was not a man openly known, to whom the Lord appeared in visions, as afterwards he did to his Prophets, or whom the Lord did send forth among the people with a word of prophecie in his mouth. Now this is thus expressed, partly to shew how the Lord hereby punished the pro∣fanenesse of these times: many of the Priests were grown in these dayes desperately wicked, and by their means the worship of God grew into contempt; (for men abhorred the offerings of the Lord, chap. 2.17.) and so by degrees, idolatrie and all other sinnes grew rife amongst them; as is evident by the reformation following immediately after this, when Samuel came to be their Judge, chap. 7.3, 4. Now hereupon, as these words implie, the Lord hid himself in a great measure from his people, and did not reveal his will by his Prophets to them as at other times, ac∣cording to that which is threatned, Amos 8.11. I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and that complaint of the Church, Psal. 74.9. We see not our signes, there is no more any Prophet, &c. and then again it is expressed partly for the honour of Sa∣muel, by and in whom the Lord was pleased to reestablish in his Church this pro∣pheticall office; whence it is, that often in the Scripture Samuel is mentioned as the first of the Prophets, as 2. Chron. 35.18. And there was no Passeover like to that, kept in Israel from the dayes of Samuel the Prophet: and Acts 3.24. Yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these dayes; and so also Heb. 11.32.

Vers. 2. And it came to passe at that time when Eli was laid down in his place, &c.] Here the time is set down when the Lord appeared first to Samuel: first, more generally, that it was in those dayes when the word of the Lord was so pre∣cious, so rare; for to this in the words immediately foregoing, I conceive this clause may best be referred, And it came to passe at that time; though indeed others re∣ferre it to that which is related in the foregoing chapter, vers. 27. concerning a message that was brought unto Eli by a man of God that was sent unto him, to wit, that at that time, when the aforesaid Prophet had spoke unto Eli, then also the Lord appeared to Samuel, and told him of the judgements that should fall upon Eli and his house: and then, secondly, more particularly; as first, that it was in the night, when Eli was laid down in his place, that is, when he was gone to bed,

and laid down to his rest, to wit, in some lodging of the house, wherein the Taber∣nacle was kept; of which see the note before, chap. 19. and secondly, that it was towards morning, vers. 3. ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was; that is, before the lamps that were in the golden can∣dlestick in the Tabernacle were gone out, the oyl being wasted: (for in the evening the lamps were lighted, and so burnt all night till they went out in the morning: concerning which see the note Exod. 30.7. whence it is said, 2. Chron. 13.11. that the lamps of the golden candlestick were to burn every evening) as for that clause vers. 2. concerning the dimnesse of Elies eyes, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see; that is inserted ei∣ther to implie also the time when the Lord appeared to Samuel; namely, that it was when Eli was now grown very old, insomuch that he began to be blind with age; or else rather to implie beforehand the reason why Samuel, supposing that Eli had called him, when the Lord spake to him, was so ready even in the night time to run to him; namely, because Eli could not see, and therefore often wanted help, in re∣gard whereof Samuel, who now in his young years attended upon Eli, was wont to rise and go to him if he heard him call, though it were at midnight.

Vers. 7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, &c.] That is, he was not yet acquainted with Gods manner of revealing himself to his Prophets by visions.

Vers. 8. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.] By this we may perceive the reason why the Lord suffered Samuel so often to mistake the voice that he heard, and run to Eli, to wit, that Eli might certainly be assured when he heard Gods message from him, that indeed the Lord had appeared to him.

Vers. 10. And the Lord came, and stood, and called, &c.] This proves not that God appeared in a visible shape; rather it is a speech of God after the manner of men, yet happely withall to implie, either that whereas before the voice he heard was as of one afarre off, now it was as of one that stood near by him; or else that whereas before the Lord onely called him, now he did not onely call him, but also proceeded to make known what he had to say to him.

Vers. 11. Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the eares of every one that heareth it shall tingle.] That is, at the hearing whereof they shall be stricken with horrour and astonishment. The same expression is used 2. Kings 21.12. in threatning the evil that was to come upon Jerusalem and Judah, because of the sinnes of Manasseh; and it is a figurative expression taken from the singing and dizzinesse which some sudden terrible noise, as a clap of thunder, or the roring of a cannon, will make in the head of a man that is near to it. How this was accom∣plished in Eli, and the wife of Phinehas, we may reade in the following chapter, vers. 18, 19, &c. where we shall find, that upon the report of the judgement now threatned, Eli fell down and brake his neck, and his daughter in law the wife of Phinehas fell presenty into the pains of travell and died.

Vers. 12. When I begin I will also make an end.] That is, as sure as I begin, so sure will I make an end; though it may be some time ere I begin, yet assuredly all shall come upon them which I have threatned.

Vers. 13. For I have told him, that I will judge his house for ever, for the ini∣quitie which he knoweth.] This is added by way of aggravating Elies sinne, that it

was not ignorantly done, but wittingly: he knew what his sonnes did, and that the Lord was displeased at it (for he had by his messenger, chap. 2.27. threatned him for it) and yet he would not restrain them.

Because his sonnes made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.] The word here translated vile, may be also rendered accursed, as it is in the margin of our bibles; and indeed let the word be taken either way, the sonnes of Eli had de∣served this censure; vile, they were in regard of their base sinnes, which made them even to stink, and to be abhorred amongst the people; every one loathed them for their abominable lives: and accursed they were in regard of the curse of God, that is in a speciall manner denounced against those, that presumptuously walk in such grosse and detestable sinnes; and it might well be said, that they made themselves vile, or accursed, because it was merely by their own wilfull choosing to walk in such lewd wayes, that they had brought such shame upon themselves, and exposed them∣selves to the curse of God according to that of the Prophet, O Israel, thou hast de∣stroyed thy self, Hos. 13.9.

Vers. 14. I have sworn unto the house of Eli▪ that the iniquitie of Elies house shall not be purged with sacrifice, nor offering for ever.] Two things are included in this decree of the Lord, concerning Elies house: first, concerning his wicked sonnes, that the Lord delivering them up to a reprobate sense, they should continue in their infidelity, impenitency, and hardnesse of heart, unto their dying day, and so then it was not their sacrifices and offerings that should do them any good: se∣condly, concerning their posterity, that the temporall punishment which God had threatned to bring upon them, should not by any means be kept off, to wit, that the dignity of the high priests office, should be taken from them, &c.

Vers. 15. And Samuel lay untill the morning, and opened the doores of the house of the Lord.] By this and some other places it seems probable, that though the Ta∣bernacle whilst it was in the desert, for the better transporting and carrying it from place to place, had no other covering nor fence, then the curtains and hangings ap∣pointed by Moses, yet afterwards it was some other way shut in; yea as it is most probable housed; whence there is mention here of the doores of the house of the Lord, see the notes chap. 1.9. The office of opening the doores belonged to the Levites, as afterward in the Temple, 1. Chron. 23.5. and so Samuel now did it. And observable indeed it is, that Samuel was not puffed up so by the Lords appearing to him, as to despise that which might seem for a Prophet a mean im∣ployment.

And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.] Though the Lord had not comman∣ded Samuel to acquaint Eli with that he had revealed to him, concerning the heavy judgement that should befall his house, yet his own reason suggested, that it was not fit that a secret that so nearly concerned him, should be kept from him; onely saith the text, Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision, to wit, either because, first, such sad tydings he knew would wound his heart, and therefore being loth to grieve him, he was afraid to let him know it; or secondly, because he doubted it might seem arrogancy in him, as a messenger sent from God, to denounce such terrible things against his aged Tutour and governour; or thirdly, because he feared Elies displeasure, as knowing well that ancient men, and men in authority, cannot easily

brook, to have the judgement of God denounced against them, especially by those that are for years, or otherwise, inferiour to them.

Vers. 17. God do so to thee and more also, if thou hide any thing from me, &c.] By this importunity of Eli in conjuring Samuel so earnestly to tell him all that God had said unto him, it is evident that so soon as Eli conceived that the Lord had ap∣peared to Samuel, he presently feared that something was revealed to him concern∣ing him and his sonnes. Guilty consciences will still be suggesting terrours and fears upon every occasion; and so it was here with Eli; being conscious to himself of his sonnes lewdnesse, and his own indulgence towards them, no sooner was he perswaded in his mind, that the Lord had appeared in a vision to Samuel, but pre∣sently he apprehended some heavy sentence pronounced against him; and this made him now so eager to know what it was; as for this manner of adjuration, God do so to thee and more also, see the note, Ruth. 1.17.

Vers. 18: And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.] God hath absolute power over all his creatures, to do with them what seemeth good in his own eyes, neither is he to render an account of his actions: and besides, he is most wise, and faithfull, and just, so that though men cannot comprehend the reason of his judgements, yet they may be sure there can be nothing faulty in them: and to his children withall his goodnesse and love is so great, that unlesse it were needfull he would not, and beyond what is needfull he will not afflict them. In all which regards it might well be, that Eli alledged this as a reason why he could not but submit to what was threatned; namely, because it was the Lord that had said it. It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.

Vers. 20. And all Israel, even from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a Prophet of the Lord.] To wit, by the accomplishment, not onely of that which he had now said unto Eli, but also of other things revealed to him by the Lord at other times; in regard whereof that is added which follows in the next verse, the Lord appeared again in Shiloh,, to wit, to Samuel.

Vers. 21. For the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh, by the word of the Lord.] That is, by Christ, the word of his Father, or by revealing his will and word unto him, which afterwards was to be delivered by him to others, to wit, by propheticall revelation, and not by any corporall or visible apparition.