The Skeptics Annotated Bible (262 page)

20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

7
And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long;
for it was twenty years
: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

(7.2)
“For it was twenty years”
173 How long was the ark of the covenant at Abinadab’s house?

3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And
Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD
: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

(7.9)
“Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD.”
125 Who may offer sacrifices to God?

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but
the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

(7.10)
“The LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.”
God’s 61st Killing

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying,
Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

(7.12)
“Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
After God helped the Israelites slaughter the Philistines, Samuel erected a monument saying, “So far God has helped us.”

13
So the Philistines were subdued
, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines
all the days of Samuel.

(7.13)
“So the Philistines were subdued … all the days of Samuel.”
174 Were the Philistines subdued all the days of Samuel?

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

8
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now
the name of his firstborn was Joel
; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.

(8.2)
“The name of his firstborn was Joel.”
175 Who was Samuel’s firstborn son?

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.