1 Samuel 7:15

“And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.] Not only before Saul was made king, but afterwards; for though he had not the exercise of the supreme government of the nation, yet he might act as a judge under Saul, and hear and try causes brought before him, and execute justice and judgment; and as a prophet he taught and instructed the people, and reformed abuses among them; and besides, he held and exercised his extraordinary office, to which he was raised up of God, and even took upon him to reprove Saul himself, and to kill Agag. The Jews say f145 he judged Israel thirteen years only, eleven by himself, and two with Saul; but his government must be much larger, his with Saul is…”

“Samuel judged Israel ... - The repetition of the phrase in 1 Samuel 7:16-17, in connection with Samuel’s circuit, is a proof that it is his civil judgeship which is meant. The military leadership of course belonged to Saul, when he became king. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Samuel judged - For though Saul was king in Samuel's last days, yet Samuel did not cease to be a judge, being so made by God's extraordinary call, which Saul could not destroy; and therefore Samuel did sometimes, upon great occasions, tho' not ordinarily, exercise the office of judge after the beginning of Saul's reign; and the years of the rule of Saul and Samuel are joined together, Act 13:20-21. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 7:16”

“7:15 judge for the rest of his life: Once Saul became king (ch 10), Samuel’s role was more judicial than military.”

“am 2873-2947, bc 1131-1057 judged: Sa1 7:6, Sa1 12:1, Sa1 25:1; Jdg 2:16, Jdg 3:10, Jdg 3:11; Act 13:20, Act 13:21 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 7:16”

“Samuel's judicial labours. - With the calling of the people to Mizpeh, and the victory at Ebenezer that had been obtained through his prayer, Samuel had assumed the government of the whole nation; so that his office as judge dates from his period, although he had laboured as prophet among the people from the death of Eli, and had thereby prepared the way for the conversion of Israel to the Lord. As his prophetic labours were described in general terms in Sa1 3:19-21, so are his labours as judge in the verses before us: viz., in Sa1 3:15 their duration, - "all the days of his life," as his activity during Saul's reign and the anointing of David (1 Samuel 15-16) sufficiently prove; and then in…”