TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
And as Samuel H8050 was offering up H5927 the burnt offering H5930, the Philistines H6430 drew near H5066 to battle H4421 against Israel H3478: but the LORD H3068 thundered H7481 with a great H1419 thunder H6963 on that day H3117 upon the Philistines H6430, and discomfited H2000 them; and they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel H3478.
Complete Jewish Bible
As Sh'mu'el was presenting the burnt offering, the P'lishtim advanced to attack Isra'el. But this time, ADONAI thundered violently over the P'lishtim, throwing them into such confusion that they were struck down before Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible
As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.
American Standard Version
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten down before Israel.
World English Bible Messianic
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 on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistims came to fight against Israel: but the Lord thundred with a great thunder that day vpon the Philistims, and scattered them: so they were slaine before Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
and Samuel is causing the burnt-offering to go up--and the Philistines have drawn nigh to battle against Israel--and Jehovah doth thunder with a great noise, on that day, upon the Philistines, and troubleth them, and they are smitten before Israel.
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In the KJVVerse 7,363 of 31,102
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 7 verses 7–12
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.
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.
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
Here, I. The Philistines invade Israel (Sa1 7:7), taking umbrage from that general meeting for repentance and prayer as if it had been a rendezvous for war, and, if so, they thought it prudent to keep the war out of their own country. They had no just cause for this suspicion; but those that seek to do mischief to others will be forward to imagine that others design mischief to them. Now see here, 1. How evil sometimes seems to come out of good. The religious meeting of the Israelites at Mizpeh brought trouble upon them from the Philistines, which perhaps tempted them to wish they had staid at home and to blame Samuel for calling them together. But we may be in God's way and yet meet with distress; nay, when sinners begin to repent and reform, they must expect that Satan will muster all his force against them, and set his instruments on work to the utmost to oppose and discourage them. But, 2. How good is, at length, brought out of that evil. Israel could never be threatened more seasonably than at this time, when they were repenting and praying, nor could they have been better prepared to receive the enemy; nor could the Philistines have acted more impolitely for themselves than to make war upon Israel at this time, when they were making their peace with God. But God permitted them to do it, that he might have an opportunity immediately of crowning his people's reformation with tokens of his favour, and of confirming the words of his messenger, who had assured them that if they repented God would deliver them out of the hand of the Philistines. Thus he makes man's wrath to praise him, and serves the purposes of his grace to his people even by the malicious designs of their enemies against them, Mic 4:11, Mic 4:12.
II. Israel cleaves closely to Samuel, as their best friend, under God, in this distress; though he was no military man, nor ever celebrated as a mighty man of valour, yet, being afraid of the Philistines, for whom they thought themselves an unequal match, they engaged Samuel's prayers for them: Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, Sa1 7:8. They were here unarmed, unprepared for war, come together to fast and pray, not to fight; prayers and tears therefore being all the weapons many of them are now furnished with, to these they have recourse. And, knowing Samuel to have a great interest in heaven, they earnestly beg of him to improve it for them. They had reason to expect it, because he had promised to pray for them (Sa1 7:5), had promised them deliverance from the Philistines (Sa1 7:3), and they had been observant of him in all that which he had spoken to them from the Lord. Thus those who sincerely submit to Christ, as their lawgiver and judge, need not doubt of their interest in his intercession. They were very solicitous that Samuel should not cease to pray for them: what military preparations were to be made they would undertake them, but let him continue instant in prayer, perhaps remembering that when Moses did but let down his hand ever so little Amalek prevailed. O what a comfort is it to all believers that our great intercessor above never ceases, is never silent, for he always appears in the presence of God for us!
III. Samuel intercedes with God for them, and does it by sacrifice, Sa1 7:9. He took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering, a whole burnt-offering, to the Lord, and, while the sacrifice was in burning, with the smoke of it his prayers ascended up to heaven for Israel. Observe, 1. He made intercession with a sacrifice. Christ intercedes in the virtue of his satisfaction, and in all our prayers we must have an eye to his great oblation, depending upon that for audience and acceptance. Samuel's sacrifice without his prayer would have been an empty shadow, his prayer without the sacrifice would not have been so prevalent, but both together teach us what great things we may expect from God in answer to those prayers which are made with faith in Christ's sacrifice. 2. It was a burnt-offering, which was offered purely for the glory of God, so intimating that the great plea he relied on in his prayer was taken from the honour of God. "Lord, help thy people now for thy name's sake." When we endeavour to give glory to God we may hope he will, in answer to our prayers, work for his own glory. 3. It was but one sucking lamb that he offered; for it is the integrity and intention of the heart that God looks at, more than the bulk or number of the offerings. This one lamb (typifying the Lamb of God) was more acceptable than thousands of rams or bullocks would have been without faith and prayer. Samuel was no priest, but he was a Levite and a prophet; the case was extraordinary, and what he did was by special direction, and therefore was accepted of God. And justly was this reproach put upon the priests because they had corrupted themselves.
IV. God gave a gracious answer to Samuel's prayer (Sa1 7:9): The Lord heard him. He was himself a Samuel, asked of God, and many a Samuel, many a mercy in answer to prayer, God gave him. Sons of prayer should be famous for praying, as Samuel was among those that call upon his name, Psa 99:6. The answer was a real answer: the Philistines were discomfited (Sa1 7:10, Sa1 7:11), totally routed, and that in such a manner as highly magnified the prayer of Samuel, the power of God, and the valour of Israel. 1. The prayer of Samuel was honoured; for at the very time when he was offering up his sacrifice, and his prayer with it, the battle began, and turned immediately against the Philistines. Thus while he was yet speaking God heard, and answered in thunder, Isa 65:24. God showed that it was Samuel's prayer and sacrifice that he had respect to, and hereby let Israel know that as in a former engagement with the Philistines he had justly chastised their presumptuous confidence in the presence of the ark, on the shoulders of two profane priests, so now he graciously accepted their humble dependence upon the prayer of faith from the mouth and heart of a pious prophet. 2. The power of God was greatly honoured; for he took the work into his own hand, and discomfited them, not with great hail-stones, which would kill them (as Jos 10:11), but with a great thunder, which frightened them and put them into such terror and consternation that they fainted away, and became a very easy prey to the sword of Israel, before whom, being thus confounded, they were smitten. Josephus adds that the earth quaked under them when first they made the onset and in many places opened and swallowed them up, and that, besides the terror of the thunder, their faces and hands were burnt with lightning, which obliged them to shift for themselves by flight. And, being thus driven to their heels by the immediate hand of God (whom they feared not so much as they had feared his ark, Sa1 4:7), then, 3. Honour was put upon the hosts of Israel; they were made use of for the completing of the victory, and had the pleasure of triumphing over their oppressors: They pursued the Philistines, and smote them. How soon did they find the benefit of their repentance, and reformation, and return to God! Now that they have thus engaged him for them none of their enemies can stand before them.
V. Samuel erected a thankful memorial of this victory, to the glory of God and for the encouragement of Israel, Sa1 7:12. He set up an Eben-ezer, the stone of help. If ever the people's hard hearts should lose the impressions of this providence, this stone would either revive the remembrance of it, and make them thankful, or remain a standing witness against them for their unthankfulness. 1. The place where this memorial was set up was the same where, twenty years before, the Israelites were smitten before the Philistines, for that was beside Eben-ezer, Sa1 4:1. The sin which procured that defeat formerly being pardoned upon their repentance, the pardon was sealed by this glorious victory in the very same place where they then suffered loss; see Hos 1:10. 2. Samuel himself took care to set up this monument. He had been instrumental by prayer to obtain the mercy, and therefore he thought himself in a special manner obliged to make this grateful acknowledgement of it. 3. The reason he gives for the name is, Hitherto the Lord hath helped us, in which he speaks thankfully of what was past, giving the glory of the victory to God only, who had added this to all his former favours; and yet he speaks somewhat doubtfully for the future: "Hitherto things have done well, but what God may yet do with us we know not, that we refer to him; but let us praise him for what he has done." Note, The beginnings of mercy and deliverance are to be acknowledged by us with thankfulness so far as they go, though they be not completely finished, nay, though the issue seem uncertain. Having obtained help from God, I continue hitherto, says blessed Paul, Act 26:22.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–12. Public domain.
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BedeAD 735
Commentary on Samuel
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 all hope of salvation from his faithful ones. But, with the earth shaken, rocks split, tombs opened, the dead rising, and other heavenly signs shining around his cross or burial, the enemies were terrified and scattered in different directions. Finally, at the tomb the guards were terrified and fell like dead men. And all the crowd that had gathered at the spectacle of the cross, and saw what was happening, beat their breasts and returned. Likewise also on the day of Pentecost, when the Lord thundered from above, and through the apostles, his own clouds, echoed the heavenly words, the enemies of the faith were confounded and struck by their words, with some being crushed by their impenitence and denial.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 7:10 records a pivotal moment in Israel's history where divine intervention dramatically secured victory against the Philistines. As Samuel was offering a burnt offering and interceding for a repentant Israel at Mizpah, the Philistines advanced for battle. In response, the LORD supernaturally thundered with a mighty sound, throwing the enemy into utter confusion and panic, leading to their decisive defeat before the Israelites. This event powerfully demonstrates God's sovereignty, His responsiveness to His people's repentance and prayer, and His willingness to fight on their behalf.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative in 1 Samuel 7:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to heighten its impact and convey its theological message. Theophany is central, as God directly manifests His power through the "great thunder," a divine display that is both auditory and impactful, signifying His active presence and judgment. The use of Juxtaposition is stark and effective: the peaceful, sacred act of Samuel offering the burnt offering is immediately contrasted with the Philistines' aggressive military advance, only to be swiftly followed by God's overwhelming and violent intervention. This creates a sense of Dramatic Irony, as the Philistines, intending to crush Israel, are instead crushed by an unseen, divine force. The phrase "great thunder" also serves as a form of Hyperbole or Emphasis, underscoring the extraordinary and supernatural nature of the event, distinguishing it from a mere natural storm and highlighting the immense power of God. The narrative structure itself builds Suspense, leading to the climactic moment of divine deliverance.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 7:10 is a profound theological statement about God's character and His relationship with His people. It reveals God as a sovereign Deliverer who actively intervenes in human history, especially when His people humble themselves, repent, and seek Him. The timing of His intervention—precisely when Samuel was offering sacrifice and praying—underscores the efficacy of sincere worship and intercession. This event serves as a powerful reminder that true victory comes not from human might or strategic brilliance, but from divine power unleashed in response to faith and obedience. It reinforces the theme that God fights for those who are truly devoted to Him, turning confusion into victory and demonstrating His absolute control over all creation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in 1 Samuel 7:10 offers timeless encouragement and profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges or overwhelming opposition, our ultimate reliance must be on God's power and not our own. Just as Israel's victory was predicated on their repentance and turning back to the LORD, so too are our breakthroughs often contingent on our spiritual posture—humility, confession, and sincere prayer. This passage calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is able to intervene in ways we cannot foresee, turning confusion into victory for His people. It challenges us to assess where our true strength lies and to remember that the battle is the LORD's, especially when we are committed to His will and His ways.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was the "great thunder" a natural storm or a miracle?
Answer: While natural storms occur, the biblical text strongly indicates that the "great thunder" in 1 Samuel 7:10 was a supernatural, targeted act of divine intervention, not merely a coincidental weather event. The phrasing "the LORD thundered" attributes the action directly to God. Furthermore, the immediate and precise effect—that the Philistines were "discomfited" or thrown into confusion—points to a miraculous, psychological impact specifically designed to incapacitate the enemy. This aligns with other instances in Scripture where God uses natural phenomena as instruments of His will to deliver His people or judge His enemies (e.g., the hailstones in Joshua 10:11). It was a theophany, a manifestation of God's power in battle.
What is the significance of "Mizpah" in this narrative?
Answer: Mizpah ("watchtower") was a highly significant location in Israel's history, often serving as a central gathering point for national assemblies, covenants, and acts of repentance or judgment. In this context (1 Samuel 7), Mizpah becomes the stage for Israel's spiritual renewal. It's where the people collectively confess their sins (1 Samuel 7:6), put away their idols, and commit to serving the LORD alone (1 Samuel 7:3-4). The Philistine attack on Mizpah, therefore, was not just a military maneuver but an assault on the very heart of Israel's renewed devotion to God. God's dramatic intervention at this specific site underscores His approval of their repentance and His commitment to defend His covenant people in their place of spiritual commitment.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic divine intervention at Mizpah in 1 Samuel 7:10, where the LORD supernaturally defeated Israel's enemies, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and decisive victory achieved by Jesus Christ. Just as God fought for Israel, Christ, as the divine Warrior and ultimate Deliverer, has fought and won the battle against the cosmic powers of darkness, sin, and death. The "great thunder" that discomfited the Philistines points to the overwhelming authority and power of Christ, who, through His crucifixion and resurrection, "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15). Samuel's intercession and the offering of the burnt offering, which preceded God's deliverance, find their perfect fulfillment in Christ, our Great High Priest, who offered Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27) and who "always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25). The peace and recovery that followed Israel's victory at Mizpah ultimately find their truest expression in the spiritual peace and eternal life offered through the reign of Christ, who has overcome the world (John 16:33) and will one day return to fully establish His kingdom, judging all His enemies with the "breath of his mouth" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).