1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 33Scholars also dispute the site of Shen (v. 12). The Israelites memorialized God's helpwith a stone monument that they named Ebenezer (lit. stone of help). This Ebenezer isobviously not the same as the one the writer mentioned in 4:1 and 5:1. It was anothermemorial stone that marked God's action for His people (cf. Gen. 35:14; Josh. 4:9;24:26). 94 It announced the reversal of previous indignities and was a symbol ofreintegration. 95 This victory ended the 40-year oppression of the Philistines (1124-1084B.C.; cf. Judg. 3:30; 8:28). However, the Philistines again became a problem for Israellater (cf. 9:16).The memorial stone bore witness to the effectiveness of trusting the Lord and Hisdesignated judge. If the Lord had helped the people thus far, what need was there for aking? This incident shows that the people should have continued following the leadershipof the judges that God had been raising up for them. This was not the right time for aking.The concluding reference to peace with the Amorites may imply that this victory began aperiod of peace with the Amorites as well as with the Philistines. The Amorites hadcontrolled the hill country of Canaan, and the Philistines had dominated the coastal plain.The native Canaanites, here referred to as Amorites, would have profited from Israel'ssuperiority over the Philistines since the Philistines were more of a threat to theCanaanites than were the Israelites. 963. Samuel's regular ministry 7:15-17In addition to providing the special leadership just described, Samuel's ministry as ajudge in Israel included regular civil, as well as spiritual, leadership. He was activeespecially in the tribal territory of Benjamin and in the town of Bethel just north ofBenjamin in Ephraim. Samuel covered a four-town circuit as preacher and judge. He wasobviously similar to the other judges in the Book of Judges all of whom also served localregions primarily. It is not clear whether the Gilgal referred to here was the Gilgal in theJordan Valley near Jericho, or whether it was another Gilgal located a few miles north ofBethel. 97 The fact that Samuel built an altar (v. 17) illustrates his response to God's graceand his commitment to Yahweh."Brief as the portrait of Samuel here is, it gives us a glimpse of the idealruler. He had been provided by God and trained by him; he now showedhimself able to read his people's minds and capable of rebuking themeffectively. He was decisive in word and action, and he was fully in touchwith God. Nor is his concern to provide justice purely coincidental. Yet94 See Carl F. Graesser, "Standing Stones in Ancient Palestine," Biblical Archaeologist 35:2 (1972):34-63.95 Gordon, pp. 107-8.96 Norman K. Gottwald, The Tribes of Yahweh, a Sociology of the Religion of Liberated Israel, 1250-1050B.C.E., p. 418. Often in the Old Testament "Amorites" (Westerners) designates the original inhabitants ofCanaan in general.97 Keil and Delitzsch, p. 76, said it was the latter as did Marten H. Woudstra, The Book of Joshua, p. 95, butI have not been able to verify the existence of a Gilgal there.