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Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 12:6-15
Samuel, having sufficiently secured his own reputation, instead of upbraiding the people upon it with their unkindness to him, sets himself to instruct them, and keep them in the way of their duty, and then the change o…
Samuel Calls for Thunder; Samuel Encourages and Comforts Israel. (b. c. 1069.)
SAMUEL CALLS FOR THUNDER; SAMUEL ENCOURAGES AND COMFORTS ISRAEL. (B. C. 1069.) Two things Samuel here aims at:— I. To convince the people of their sin in desiring a king. They were now rejoicing before God in and with t…
The Philistines War against Israel. (b. c. 1067.)
THE PHILISTINES WAR AGAINST ISRAEL. (B. C. 1067.) We are not told wherein it was that the people of Israel offended God, so as to forfeit his presence and turn his hand against them, as Samuel had threatened (1 Samuel 1…
Saul Reproved by Samuel; Sentence Passed upon Saul. (b. c. 1067.)
SAUL REPROVED BY SAMUEL; SENTENCE PASSED UPON SAUL. (B. C. 1067.) Here is, I. Saul's offence in offering sacrifice before Samuel came. Samuel, when he anointed him, had ordered him to tarry for him seven days in Gilgal,…
The Israelites' Low Condition. (b. c. 1067.)
THE ISRAELITES' LOW CONDITION. (B. C. 1067.) Here, 1. Samuel departs in displeasure. Saul has set up for himself, and now he is left to himself: Samuel gat him from Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:15), and it does not appear that h…
Jonathan Smites the Philistines. (b. c. 1067.)
JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINES. (B. C. 1067.) We must here take notice, I. Of the goodness of God in restraining the Philistines, who had a vast army of valiant men in the field, from falling upon that little handful o…
The Philistines Destroyed. (b. c. 1067.)
THE PHILISTINES DESTROYED. (B. C. 1067.) We have here the prosecution and improvement of the wonderful advantages which Jonathan and his armour-bearer gained against the Philistines. I. The Philistines were, by the powe…
Saul's Rash Oath. (b. c. 1067.)
SAUL'S RASH OATH. (B. C. 1067.) We have here an account of the distress of the children of Israel, even in the day of their triumphs. Such alloys are all present joys subject to. And such obstructions does many a good c…
Jonathan Condemned to Die; Jonathan Rescued. (b. c. 1067.)
JONATHAN CONDEMNED TO DIE; JONATHAN RESCUED. (B. C. 1067.) Here is, I. Saul's boasting against the Philistines. He proposed, as soon as his soldiers had got their suppers, to pursue them all night, and not leave a man o…
The Amalekites Destroyed. (b. c. 1067.)
THE AMALEKITES DESTROYED. (B. C. 1067.) Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. 1. Of his court and family, the names of his sons and daughters (1 Samuel 14:49), and of his wife and his cousin-german that wa…
The Amalekites Destroyed. (b. c. 1065.)
THE AMALEKITES DESTROYED. (B. C. 1065.) Here, I. Samuel, in God's name, solemnly requires Saul to be obedient to the command of God, and plainly intimates that he was now about to put him upon a trial, in one particular…
Samuel Reproves Saul; Saul Rejected of God. (b. c. 1065.)
SAMUEL REPROVES SAUL; SAUL REJECTED OF GOD. (B. C. 1065.) Saul is here called to account by Samuel concerning the execution of his commission against the Amalekites; and remarkable instances we are here furnished with o…
Saul's Dethronement Foretold. (b. c. 1065.)
SAUL'S DETHRONEMENT FORETOLD. (B. C. 1065.) Saul is at length brought to put himself into the dress of the penitent; but it is too evident that he only acts the part of a penitent, and is not one indeed. Observe, I. How…
Agag Slain. (b. c. 1065.)
AGAG SLAIN. (B. C. 1065.) Samuel, as a prophet, is here set over kings, Jeremiah 1:10. I. He destroys king Agag, doubtless by such special direction from heaven as none now can pretend to. He hewed Agag in pieces. Some…
Samuel Goes to Bethlehem. (b. c. 1065.)
SAMUEL GOES TO BETHLEHEM. (B. C. 1065.) Samuel had retired to his own house in Ramah, with a resolution not to appear any more in public business, but to addict himself wholly to the instructing and training up of the s…
David Anointed by Samuel. (b. c. 1065.)
DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL. (B. C. 1065.) If the sons of Jesse were told that God would provide himself a king among them (as he had said, 1 Samuel 16:1), we may well suppose they all made the best appearance they could,…
Saul Troubled by an Evil Spirit. (b. c. 1065.)
SAUL TROUBLED BY AN EVIL SPIRIT. (B. C. 1065.) We have here Saul falling and David rising. I. Here is Saul made a terror to himself (1 Samuel 16:14): The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He having forsaken God and…
Goliath's Challenge to Israel. (b. c. 1060.)
GOLIATH'S CHALLENGE TO ISRAEL. (B. C. 1060.) It was not long ago that the Philistines were soundly beaten, and put to the worse, before Israel, and they would have been totally routed if Saul's rashness had not prevente…
David Comes to the Camp of Israel. (b. c. 1060.)
DAVID COMES TO THE CAMP OF ISRAEL. (B. C. 1060.) Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another, each advantageously posted, but neither forward to engage. Either they were parleying and treating of an accomm…
David Meets Goliath. (b. c. 1060.)
DAVID MEETS GOLIATH. (B. C. 1060.) David is at length presented to Saul for his champion (1 Samuel 17:31) and he bravely undertakes to fight the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:32): Let no man's heart fail because of him. It wo…
David Kills Goliath. (b. c. 1060.)
DAVID KILLS GOLIATH. (B. C. 1060.) We are now coming near this famous combat, and have in these verses the preparations and remonstrances made on both sides. I. The preparations made on both sides for the encounter. The…
Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 17:48-58
Here is 1. The engagement between the two champions, 1 Samuel 17:48. To this engagement the Philistine advanced with a great deal of state and gravity; if he must encounter a pigmy, yet it shall be with the magnificence…
Jonathan's Love to David. (b. c. 1060.)
JONATHAN'S LOVE TO DAVID. (B. C. 1060.) David was anointed to the crown to take it out of Saul's hand, and over Jonathan's head, and yet here we find, I. That Saul, who was now in possession of the crown, reposed a conf…
David Honoured by the People; Saul Troubled with an Evil Spirit. (b. c. 1060.)
DAVID HONOURED BY THE PEOPLE; SAUL TROUBLED WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT. (B. C. 1060.) Now begin David's troubles, and they not only tread on the heels of his triumphs, but take rise from them, such is the vanity of that in thi…