The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. And. Hebrew inserts here the conclusion of the last verse, whence some would infer that Samuel told the Israelites to make war upon the Philistines. But as it turned out so ill, this would have tended to discredit him; and we find that the Philistines were the aggressors.—Days. this war took place immediately after the threats denounced to Heli; (Sararius) or according to Usher, and the best chronologists, about 27 years after that event. Calmet.—The addition of the Septuagint seems to insinuate, that the sons of Heli persevered for a long time in their wicked course. Calmet. 3:20. Bible.—Josephus says that Phinees was his father’s coadjutor.—Salien observes that this must be considered as a fresh blot in the character of the latter, since he ought to have delivered the delinquents up to execution. Deuteronomy 21:21. Tirin, on the contrary, adduces the power of his sons, and the debilitated state of Heli, to excuse his neglect. Bible.—Help. In Hebrew Eben-ezer; so called, from the help which the Lord was pleased afterwards to give to his people, Israel, in that place, by the prayers of Samuel, Calmet. 7:12. ( Challoner.) about 21 years afterwards.—Aphec, in the tribe of Juda, not far from Maspha.