5 Then Samuel said , "Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the Lord for you." 6 They gathered to Mizpah , 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 sons of Israel at Mizpah .
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah , the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel . And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines . 8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel , " Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines ." 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord ; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering , and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel . But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel . 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines , and struck them down as far as below e Beth-car . 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen , and named e it Ebenezer , saying , "Thus far the Lord has helped us."
13 So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel . And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel . 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron even to Gath ; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines . So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites . 15 Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life . 16 He used to go annually e on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah , and he judged Israel in all these places .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:5-16
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:5-6
(Read 1 Samuel 7:5-6)
Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord; signifying their humiliation and sorrow for sin. They pour out their hearts in repentance before the Lord. They were free and full in their confession, and fixed in their resolution to cast away from them all their wrong doings. They made a public confession, We have sinned against the Lord; thus giving glory to God, and taking shame to themselves. And if we thus confess our sins, we shall find our God faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:7-12
(Read 1 Samuel 7:7-12)
The Philistines invaded Israel. When sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect that Satan will muster all his force against them, and set his instruments at work to the utmost, to oppose and discourage them. The Israelites earnestly beg Samuel to pray for them. Oh what a comfort it is to all believers, that our great Intercessor above never ceases, is never silent! for he always appears in the presence of God for us. Samuel's sacrifice, without his prayer, had been an empty shadow. God gave a gracious answer. And Samuel erected a memorial of this victory, to the glory of God, and to encourage Israel. Through successive generations, the church of God has had cause to set up Eben-ezers for renewed deliverances; neither outward persecutions nor inward corruptions have prevailed against her, because "hitherto the Lord hath helped her:" and he will help, even to the end of the world.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 7:13-17
(Read 1 Samuel 7:13-17)
In this great revival of true religion, the ark was neither removed to Shiloh, nor placed with the tabernacle any where else. This disregard to the Levitical institutions showed that their typical meaning formed their chief use; and when that was overlooked, they became a lifeless service, not to be compared with repentance, faith, and the love of God and man.