1 Samuel 7:16

“And he went from year to year in circuit, etc.] As judges do; or “from the year in the year” f146 from the time of the year in the year, as the Targum, from the middle of it, that is, every half year; and so Josephus says f147, that he went twice a year in circuit: and the places he went to, and where he held his courts of judicature, were Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh; by Bethel is not meant Shiloh, as Abarbinel, for that was now destroyed; nor Kirjathjearim, where the ark was, for it would have been called by its name; but the same Bethel that was near to Ai, and not far from Shiloh, and was in the tribe of Benjamin, as all those places were. Gilgal was where the tabernacle, ark, and camp…”

“Gilgal - It is uncertain whether Gilgal in the valley of the Jordan, or the modern Jiljulieh, the Gilgal of 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:38, be meant; but far more probably the former (see 1 Samuel 11:14 and note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“In all places - He went to those several places, in compliance with the people, whose convenience he was willing to purchase with his own trouble, as an itinerant judge and preacher; and by his presence in several parts, he could the better observe, and rectify all sorts of miscarriages. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 7:17”

“7:16 Bethel and Mizpah were places of national assembly in the judges era (Judg 20:1, 18, 26; 21:1-2). Bethel’s significance went back to the days of Abraham (Gen 12:8; 13:3-4; 28:10-22; 35:1-15). • Gilgal, located near Jericho, had been a sacred place since Joshua’s day (Josh 4:19-24; 5:2-10). From this circuit, Samuel influenced “all the people of Israel” (1 Sam 10:17).”

“he went: When he was at Bethel, the tribe of Ephraim and all the northern parts of the country could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin and those beyond Jordan could have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within the reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad, but at Ramah was the place of his ordinary abode; and there he held his court, for there he judged Israel, and as it is probable that Shiloh was destroyed, it is said ( Sa1 8:17) that there, i.e., at Ramah, "he built an altar to the Lord." in circuit: Heb. and he circuited, Jdg 5:10, Jdg 10:4, Jdg 12:14; Psa 75:2, Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 7:17”