Samuel Subdues the Philistines 1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill; and Eleazar his son they consecrated to keep the ark of the LORD.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 1. Aminadab is interpreted as "my people, willing"; Gibeah, "lofty." And indeed the ark of God must be entrusted to such persons. For a willing people is one whom good will alone draws to the exercise of virtuous works, whom necessity does not compel to fulfill the commandments of God.
Bede · AD 735 They sanctified his son Eleazar, etc. They chose holy and learned men, and by the name of the sons of God, they appointed teachers who would guard the state of the Church. For Eleazar, who is called the helper of God, figuratively expresses the assembly of those who can say with the apostle: "For we are God's fellow workers" (I Cor. III).
2 And it was, from the day the ark stayed at Kiriath-jearim, that the days multiplied and became twenty years; and all the house of Israel mourned after the LORD.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 3. Those who had not removed the foreign gods from their midst, except by good will, how were they resting after the Lord? All of which things, if they are investigated spiritually, the days of the ark's sojourn are multiplied.
Bede · AD 735 And the whole house of Israel rested after the Lord. It symbolically designates the final happiness of Judah converted at the end, to which the entire previous passage particularly refers, although it can generally be applied to the whole church.
3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, saying: “If with all your heart you are returning to the LORD, remove the foreign gods from your midst, and the Ashtaroth; and set your heart firmly toward the LORD, and serve him alone — and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 6. But since, with God as our guide, we have followed the ark on its journey all the way to the place of its exaltation, let us see with what zeal the preacher keeps watch over the correction of those subject to him.
Bede · AD 735 And prepare your hearts for the Lord, etc. The Lord, author of a new priesthood, which is according to the order of Melchizedek, appearing in the flesh, teaches the whole house of Israel, that is, the Church of those desiring to see God, to remove from themselves the traditions of the Pharisees; and not only the works, which the law also taught, but also to prepare their hearts…
4 And the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 God alone is substantially and essentially God. When I say "alone," I set forth the holy and uncreated essence and substance of God. For the word alone is used in the case of any individual and generally of human nature.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 10. For it is the custom of the elect that when they receive the exhortations of divine preaching, they are kindled to zeal for the good works they have heard. For the reprobate frequently hear the words of God, yet from those same words they undertake no good works.
Bede · AD 735 So the children of Israel removed Baalim and Ashtaroth, etc. These idols are from the Sidonians; of which Baalim signifies the higher or ascending ones, and Ashtaroth the workmanship of explorers.
5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to the LORD.”
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 11. Mizpah is interpreted as "watching" or "contemplation." The blessed Paul explains this contemplation when he says: 'For now we see through a glass, darkly' (1 Cor. 13:12). For to watch is, for us, to contemplate eternal goods from the heights of the Scriptures. For we watch, as it were, what we already know by the truth of faith, yet do not yet see with unveiled face.
Bede · AD 735 Samuel said: Gather all Israel to Mizpah, etc. The Savior said to the apostles that by preaching the word of the Gospel, they should gather all spiritual Israel to Mizpah, that is, to the watchtower, namely of the new truth and life. From this gathering of the universal church, the Catholic Church took its name in Greek.
6 And they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day; and they said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
Leo the Great · AD 461 At one time the Hebrew people and all the Israelite tribes, because of the offensiveness of their sins, were held under the heavy domination of the Philistines. In order to be able to overcome their enemies, as the sacred history shows, they restored strength of soul and body with a self-imposed fast.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 12. For what is it to draw water, except to bring forth streams of tears from the deep confusion of a penitent soul? For we draw water, as it were, when, considering how deep the iniquity into which we have fallen, we lament.
Bede · AD 735 And they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water, etc. The fact that they drew water during prayers and fastings and poured it out before the Lord is a sign and execution of pious devotion.
7 And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel; and the sons of Israel heard, and they were afraid before the Philistines.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 15. For when the foreign gods have been removed, the fast completed, and the scrutiny of examination carried out by the preacher, the princes of the Philistines ascend against Israel: because when we advance to a higher life, the malign spirits, who always envy those who act well, are more hostile to us.
Bede · AD 735 And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered in Mizpah, etc. The enemies of the truth heard that, with the Lord preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, all the people gladly listened to Him; and unclean spirits, specifically the princes of the impious (wherefore they are also called the rulers of darkness by the Apostle [Ephesians VI]), rose up against the st…
8 And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not be silent toward us — do not stop crying out to the LORD our God, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 And Samuel took one nursing lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
Ambrosiaster · AD 384 WHETHER SAMUEL WAS ONE OF THE SONS OF AARON, AND WHETHER HE IS TO BE CONSIDERED A PRIEST? — There are some among us who, partly occupied with secular affairs and partly less studious concerning the Holy Scriptures, fall into error, thinking that Samuel was a priest, that is, that he traced his origin from Aaron, whose offspring the Lord God ordained should be born priests, not…
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 17. But good pastors also confer upon their afflicted subjects not only the aids of prayers, but also of sacrifices. Whence it is added: 'And Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, and Samuel cried out.' What is the cry of Samuel, if not the great power of desire in the supplication of the priest?
Bede · AD 735 But Samuel took one suckling lamb, etc. The Lord took the innocent one, whom He had clothed in human form for the salvation of the world, and offered Him as a whole burnt offering on the altar of the cross to the Father.
10 And it was, as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, that the Philistines drew near for battle against Israel. And the LORD thundered with a great voice on that day against the Philistines, and threw them into confusion; and they were beaten before Israel.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 20. When Samuel was offering a holocaust, the Philistines enter battle against Israel: because evil spirits then stir up graver temptations against the faithful subjects when they see Pastors standing more firmly against them. But the Lord thunders upon the Philistines: because when doctors pray and the faithful subjects pray, divine grace supplies strength.
Bede · AD 735 It happened therefore, when Samuel was offering a burnt offering, etc. It happened when the Lord offered himself as a sacrifice to God in the aroma of sweetness, that his persecutors, having set him on the cross, blasphemed or mocked him, and after his burial, attempted to obstruct the way of his resurrection, so that, as if he were condemned to eternal death, they would strip…
11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 21. Well indeed, those who slay the Philistines are said to have gone forth from Mizpah. For in Mizpah, which is called "watching," those dwell who persist in the contemplation of divine things. But they go out to slay the Philistines when, coming forth instructed from the secret of inner meditation, they suppress the forces of hostile domination.
Bede · AD 735 The men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, etc. The apostles went out from Mizpah, that is, the watchtower of their peaceful way of life, pursued the impious by reproving them; and struck them from their ancient, that is, impious life, gradually removing them with the sword of the word, until they led them to the fellowship of the Church, which is found…
12 And Samuel took one stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, and said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
Jerome · AD 420 "That stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." That is the stone that is called Ebenezer in the book of Kings [Samuel]. That stone is Christ. The name Ebenezer, moreover, means "the stone of help."
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 22. In sacred Scripture, a stone signifies our Lord and Redeemer. A single stone is taken up by Samuel when the strength of the Redeemer is uniquely proclaimed by the preacher of Holy Church. This stone is indeed set up between Mizpah and Sen, because at the departure of life it protects the elect and crushes the reprobate.
Bede · AD 735 And Samuel took a stone, etc. And indeed we read above of the stone of help, which in Hebrew is called Ebenezer; but there the historian anticipated, whereas here he expresses both the time and the cause of the name being given; which, as a clear type of the Mediator, is rightly called one stone, because there is one Lord Jesus Christ, who justifies the circumcision by faith an…
13 And the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come again into the territory of Israel; and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 23. These things indeed so express the deeds of each of the elect, that they indicate both the battle array and the joys of recompense of the holy catholic Church.
Bede · AD 735 And the hand of the Lord was upon the Philistines, etc. The grace of Christ was made to crush the enemies of the primitive Church wherever the light of the Gospel shone in Judea, nor is it repulsed by disbelief and persecution.
14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron as far as Gath; and their territory Israel delivered from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorite.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 25. Those ruined multitudes of angels are the cities that were taken away. But then they are restored, when from the elect human nature is assumed that which may supply what was lost from among the angels. This can also fittingly be understood of the conversion of wicked men.
Bede · AD 735 There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. After the ascension of the Lord, with the Churches confirmed in faith, there was our peace, which made both one, between those from the Jews and those who believed from the Gentiles.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 28. What are the days of each teacher's life, if not the splendors of spiritual virtues? For he judges Israel all the days of his life who represents the light of justice—which he proclaims by speaking—through the perfection of good conduct, as an example to his faithful subjects.
Bede · AD 735 Samuel also judged Israel, etc. The Lord judges the Church at all times, in which, while it wanders on earth, He vivifies it with the light of His divine presence. For the days of Christ are the same as the days of the Church. About which He speaks in the Gospel: "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John IX).
16 And he went year by year and circled to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 29. Bethel is called the house of God; Gilgal, a wheel; Mizpah, as has already been repeated above, is interpreted as a watchtower. What then does Bethel signify, if not men appointed to the office of the sacred altar, who, while they devote themselves to spiritual pursuits, are as it were intimates and members of the household of almighty God?
17 And his returning was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to the LORD.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 31. As we have already said far above, Ramah is interpreted as "consummated vision" and signifies that blessed and perfect society of the citizens above, to which Samuel returns lest he be weighed down by the burden of his labor. For Samuel returns to Ramah when the mind of the preacher is refreshed through love of heavenly things.
Bede · AD 735 And he returned to Ramathia, etc. The Lord returned to heaven in body by ascending once, the office of His dispensation having been completed; he returns daily in divine presence, by which he always and everywhere reaches entirety from end to end strongly, and arranges all things sweetly.