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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:27-36
EXPOSITION THE DIVINE JUDGMENT UPON ELI AND HIS HOUSE (1 Samuel 2:27-36). 1 Samuel 2:27 There came a man of God. The title man of God is the usual appellation of a prophet in the books of Judges, Samuel, and Kings, and…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 3:1-21
EXPOSITION THE CALL OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:1-10). 1 Samuel 3:1 The word of the Lord was precious in those days. Or rather rare; it came but seldom, and there was no proper order of persons from whose ranks the "speakers…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:1-22
EXPOSITION 1 Samuel 4:1 And the word of Samuel... all Israel. This clause is rightly connected with the foregoing verse of the previous chapter in the Syriac and Vulgate. Attached to the fourth chapter, it gives a wrong…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 5:1-12
EXPOSITION THE ARK OF GOD IN PHILISTIA (1 Samuel 5:1-12). 1 Samuel 5:1 The Philistines took the ark of God. The silence of Scripture is often as remarkable as what it tells us. From Psalms 78:60-64; Jeremiah 7:12; Jerem…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:1-17
EXPOSITION 1 Samuel 7:1 At Kirjath-jearim the people reverently undertook the charge of the ark, and carried out their arrangements so carefully that no further calamity occurred. On its arrival they placed it in the ho…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:1-22
EXPOSITION SAUL (CHS. 8-31). THE great interest of the First Book of Samuel lies in the fact that we have in it the orderly consolidation of two of the main factors in the preparation for the manifestation of our Lord,…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 9:1-27
EXPOSITION SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING BY THE VOICE OF PROPHECY. GENEALOGY OF SAUL (1 Samuel 9:1-27). 1 Samuel 9:1 A man … whose name was Kish. The genealogy of Saul is rendered obscure by the Hebrew custom of abbreviatin…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:1-16
EXPOSITION SAUL ANOINTED TO BE KING, AND SIGNS GIVEN HIM CONVINCING HIM OF THE TRUTH OF HIS APPOINTMENT (1 Samuel 10:1-16). 1 Samuel 10:1 A vial of oil. Hebrew, "the vial of oil," because it was that same holy oil with…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:17-27
EXPOSITION PUBLIC SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING (1 Samuel 10:17-24). 1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel called the people together unto Jehovah to Mizpeh. For the reason why Mizpah (so the name should be spelt) was chosen as the place o…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:1-25
EXPOSITION SAMUEL'S EXHORTATION TO THE PEOPLE AT GILGAL. This speech of Samuel is not to be regarded as a farewell address made upon his resignation of his office; for though a new power had been introduced, and Samuel'…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:1-23
SAUL'S PROBATION AND FAILURE (CHS. 13-15.). EXPOSITION WAR AGAINST THE PHILISTINES (verse 1-14:46). 1 Samuel 13:1 Saul's age and length of reign. Saul reigned one year. This verse literally translated is, "Saul was one…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:1-52
EXPOSITION JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR-BISON (1 Samuel 14:1-15). 1 Samuel 14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day. Literally, "And there was a day, and Jonathan," etc.; or, as we should say, And it happened one day t…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:36-52
EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S DANGER AND DELIVERANCE (1 Samuel 14:36-46). 1 Samuel 14:36 Let us go down after the Philistines by night. Saul, conscious that he had prevented the victory from being so decisive as it would otherw…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:1-35
FINAL REJECTION OF SAUL (1 Samuel 15:1-35.) EXPOSITION DIVINE COMMAND TO PUNISH THE AMALEKITES, AND ITS EXECUTION BY SAUL (1 Samuel 15:1-9). 1 Samuel 15:1 Samuel also said. Better literally, "And Samuel said." There is…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:1-23
DAVID ANOINTED AS THE FUTURE KING, AND HIS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO SAUL. (1 Samuel 16:1-23) EXPOSITION CHOICE OF DAVID AS SUCCESSOR TO SAUL (1 Samuel 16:1-13). 1 Samuel 16:1 How long writ thou mourn? The grief of Samuel w…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:1-19
ADVANCE OF DAVID IN REPUTATION BY THE SLAUGHTER OF GOLIATH (1 Samuel 17:1-58.). EXPOSITION GOLIATH'S DEFIANCE OF ISRAEL (1 Samuel 17:1-11). 1 Samuel 17:1 The Philistines gathered together their armies. As the object of…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:20-58
EXPOSITION 1 Samuel 17:20-22 He came to the trench. More probably the barricade, or outer circle of defence for their camp, made of their wagons (see on 1 Samuel 10:22). Strictly the word means a wagon track, but the pr…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:1-24
SUCCESSIVE ATTEMPTS UPON DAVID'S LIFE FRUSTRATED BY THE LOVE OF JONATHAN AND MICHAL, AND FINALLY BY FLIGHT (1 Samuel 19:1-24.). EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S LOVE FOR DAVID (1 Samuel 19:1-7). 1 Samuel 19:1 Saul spake to Jonatha…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:1-23
JONATHAN ENDEAVOURS TO RECONCILE SAUL TO DAVID (1 Samuel 20:1-42.). EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S COVENANT WITH DAVID RENEWED (1 Samuel 20:1-23). 1 Samuel 20:1 David fled from Naioth. While Saul was under the influence of the p…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:24-42
EXPOSITION OPEN HATRED OF SAUL AGAINST DAVID (1 Samuel 20:24-34). 1 Samuel 20:24-26 The king sat him down to eat meat. Hebrew, "the king sat down at the bread to eat." On sitting at table see 1 Samuel 16:11. And Jonatha…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:1-15
DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE PHILISTINES (1 Samuel 21:1-15.). EXPOSITION DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB (1 Samuel 21:1-9). 1 Samuel 21:1 Then came David to Nob. Nob means a knoll or hill, and apparently was sit…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:1-23
EXPOSITION COMMENCEMENT OF DAVID'S LIFE AS AN OUTLAW. 1 Samuel 22:1 The cave Adullam. According to Josephus this was situated near a city of the same name ('Ant.,' 1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Samuel 6:3), which formed one of a gro…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:1-13
ADVENTURES OF DAVID AT KEILAH AND IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH (1 Samuel 23:1-29). EXPOSITION DAVID RESCUES KEILAH, BUT HAS TO ESCAPE FROM THE TREACHERY OF ITS INHABITANTS (1 Samuel 23:1-13). 1 Samuel 23:1 They told David,…
The Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:14-29
EXPOSITION SAUL'S PURSUIT OF DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH (1 Samuel 23:14-28). 1 Samuel 23:14, 1 Samuel 23:15 Strong holds. Natural fortresses in the woods and mountains are meant, and places difficult of access. The…