Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 3. Saying. When the ark was translated, ( Calmet.) and on many other occasions, this was the theme of his discourse to the Israelites, pressing them to cease from doing evil, and to perform good works. Bible.—Thus he preached every year in the different cities. verse 16. Lyran.—Astaroth. These were the principal idols of the country, (Salien, Judges 2:11) under which all the others were included. Menochius.—Prepare. God lays this injunction upon us, to remind us of our liberty, and we beg that he would convert us, acknowledging the necessity of his grace. Calmet.—“God does not require impossibilities, but by his command, admonishes thee to do what thou canst, and to pray for what thou art not able to perform, and he assists thee, that thou mayst be able to perform it.” Calmet. Trid. vi. 11. Saint Augustine and so forth