the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible Gill's Exposition
Hannah's Prayer; Samuel's Birth and Dedication.Chapter 2
Hannah's Song; Eli's Wicked Sons Rebuked.Chapter 3
God Calls Samuel; Prophecy Against Eli's House.Chapter 4
Ark Captured by Philistines; Eli's Death.Chapter 5
Ark Brings Plagues Upon the Philistines.Chapter 6
Ark Returned to Israel With Offerings.Chapter 7
Samuel Judges Israel; Philistines Subdued.Chapter 8
Israel Demands a King; Samuel's Warning.Chapter 9
Saul Chosen as Israel's First King.Chapter 10
Saul Anointed by Samuel; Publically Chosen King.Chapter 11
Saul Defeats Ammonites; Confirmed as King.Chapter 12
Samuel's Farewell Speech and Warning to Israel.Chapter 13
Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice; Philistines Threaten Israel.Chapter 14
Jonathan's Victory; Saul's Rash Oath.Chapter 15
Saul's Disobedience; Rejected as King by God.Chapter 16
David Anointed as King; Serves Saul.Chapter 17
David Defeats Goliath With God's Help.Chapter 18
David's Success; Saul's Jealousy Grows.Chapter 19
Saul Tries to Kill David; David Flees.Chapter 20
David and Jonathan's Covenant of Friendship.Chapter 21
David's Flight to Nob; Eats Consecrated Bread.Chapter 22
Saul Kills Priests at Nob; David Gathers Followers.Chapter 23
David Saves Keilah; Saul Continues Pursuit.Chapter 24
David Spares Saul in the Cave.Chapter 25
David and Abigail; Nabal's Death.Chapter 26
David Spares Saul Again; Takes His Spear.Chapter 27
David Flees to Philistia, Lives in Ziklag.Chapter 28
Saul Consults the Witch of Endor.Chapter 29
Philistines Reject David's Participation in Battle.Chapter 30
David Rescues Families From Amalekites.Chapter 31
Saul and His Sons Die in Battle.
- 1 Samuel
by John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL OTHERWISE CALLED THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS
This book, in the Hebrew copies, is commonly called Samuel, or the Book of Samuel; in the Syriac version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet; and in the Arabic version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet, which is the First Book of the Kings; and the Septuagint version, the Book of the Kingdom: it has the name of Samuel, because it contains an history of his life and times; and the Jews say a it was written by him; and as it may well enough be thought to be, to the end of the twenty fourth chapter; and the rest might be written by Nathan and Gad, as may he gathered from 1 Chronicles 29:29 as also the following book that bears his name; and both may be called the Books of Kings, because they give an account of the rise of the kings in Israel, and of the two first of them; though some think they were written by Jeremiah, as Abarbinel; and others ascribe them to Ezra: however, there is no doubt to be made of it that this book was written by divine inspiration, when we consider the series of its history, its connection and harmony with other parts of Scripture; the several things borrowed from it, or alluded to in the book of Psalms, particularly what is observed in Psalms 113:7, seems to be taken out of 1 Samuel 2:8, and the sanction which the Lord gives to it, by referring to a fact in it, whereby he stopped the mouths of the Scribes and Pharisees cavilling at his disciples, Matthew 12:3, compared with 1 Samuel 21:3, yea, even, as Huetius b observes, some Heathen writers have by their testimonies confirmed some passages in these books, which they seem to have been acquainted with, as Nicolaus of Damascus c, and Eupolemus d; it contains an history of the government of Eli, and of the birth of Samuel, and his education under him; of the succession of Samuel in it, and the resignation of it to Saul, when he was chosen king; of his administration of his office, and of things done in the time of it, both before and after his rejection, and of the persecution of David by Saul, and is concluded with his death.
a T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 14. 2. b Demonstrat. Evangel. Prop. 4. p. 199. c Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 7. c. 5. sect. 2. d Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30.
