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<p>We have here a short account of the further good services that Samuel did to Israel. Having parted them from their idols, and brought them home to their God, he had put them into a capacity of receiving further benefits by his ministry. Having prevailed in that, he becomes, in other instances, a great blessing to them; yet, writing it himself, he is brief in the relation. We are not told here, but it appears (<a class="bibleref" title="2Chr.35.18" href="/passage/?search=2Chr.35.18">2 Chron. 35:18</a>) that in the days of Samuel the prophet the people of Israel kept the ordinance of the passover with more than ordinary devotion, notwithstanding the distance of the ark and the desolations of Shiloh. Many good offices, no doubt, he did for Israel, but here we are only told how instrumental he was, 1. In securing the public peace (<a class="bibleref" title="1Sam.7.13" href="/passage/?search=1Sam.7.13">1 Sam. 7:13</a>): “<i>In his days the Philistines came no more into the coast of Israel</i>, made no inroads or incursions upon them; they perceived that God now fought for Israel and that his hand was against the Philistines, and this kept them in awe, and restrained the remainder of their wrath.” Samuel was a protector and deliverer to Israel, not by dint of sword, as Gideon, nor by strength of arm, as Samson, but by the power of prayer to God and carrying on a work of reformation among the people. Religion and piety are the best securities of a nation. 2. In recovering the public rights, <a class="bibleref" title="1Sam.7.14" href="/passage/?search=1Sam.7.14">1 Sam. 7:14</a>. By his influence Israel had the courage to demand the cities which the Philistines had unjustly taken from them and had long detained; and the Philistines, not daring to contend with one that had so great an interest in heaven, tamely yielded to the demand, and restored (some think) even Ekron and Gath, two of the capital cities, though afterwards they retook them; others think some small towns that lay between Ekron and Gath, which were forced out of the Philistines’ hands. This they got by their reformation and religion, they got ground of their enemies and got forward in their affairs. It is added, <i>There was peace between Israel and the Amorites</i>, that is, the Canaanites, the remains of the natives. Not that Israel made any league with them, but they were quiet, and not so mischievous to Israel as they had sometimes been. Thus <i>when a man’s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him</i> and give him no disturbance, <a class="bibleref" title="Prov.16.7" href="/passage/?search=Prov.16.7">Prov. 16:7</a>. 3. In administering public justice (<a class="bibleref" title="1Sam.7.15,1Sam.7.16" href="/passage/?search=1Sam.7.15,1Sam.7.16"><span class="bibleref" title="1Sam.7.15">1 Sam. 7:15</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="1Sam.7.16">16</span></a>): <i>He judged Israel</i>; as a prophet he taught them their duty and reproved them for their sins, which is called <i>judging</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.20.4,Ezek.22.2" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.20.4,Ezek.22.2"><span class="bibleref" title="Ezek.20.4">Ezek. 20:4</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Ezek.22.2">22:2</span></a>. Moses judged Israel when he <i>made them know the statutes of God and his laws</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Exod.18.16" href="/passage/?search=Exod.18.16">Exod. 18:16</a>); and thus Samuel judged them to the last, even after Saul was made king; so he promised them then, when Saul was inaugurated (<a class="bibleref" title="1Sam.12.23" href="/passage/?search=1Sam.12.23">1 Sam. 12:23</a>), <i>I will</i> not cease to <i>teach you the good and the right way</i>. As a magistrate, he received appeals from the inferior courts and gave judgment upon them, tried causes and determined them, tried prisoners and acquitted or condemned them, according to the law. This he did all his days, till he grew old and past service, and resigned to Saul; and afterwards he exercised authority when application was made to him; nay, he judged even Agag,
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