1 Samuel 7:16 kjv
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
1 Samuel 7:16 nkjv
He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.
1 Samuel 7:16 niv
From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places.
1 Samuel 7:16 esv
And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places.
1 Samuel 7:16 nlt
Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places.
1 Samuel 7 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 7:15 | So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. | Samuel's lifelong commitment as judge. |
| 1 Sam 7:17 | Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there... | His regular base of operations. |
| 1 Sam 8:1-3 | When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel... But his sons did not walk in his ways... | Contrast with his sons' failure. |
| Judg 2:16 | Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges, who saved them... | God's recurring provision of leaders. |
| Judg 4:4-5 | Now Deborah, a prophetess... was judging Israel at that time... under the palm tree of Deborah... | Another judge with a specific location of judgment. |
| Exod 18:13-26 | Moses judged the people, but it became too burdensome... so he appointed judges for smaller groups. | Establishing a judicial system, delegation of justice. |
| Deut 16:18 | You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns... | Divine command for a just judicial system. |
| Lev 19:15 | You shall do no injustice in court... but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. | Commandment for righteous judgment. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up a country... | Importance of justice for national stability. |
| Isa 33:22 | For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king... | God as the ultimate source of justice and governance. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... execute in your gates justice, mercy, and peace. | Call for truth and justice within the gates/courts. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good... to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. | Centrality of justice in God's requirements. |
| Acts 13:20 | ...He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. | Summary of the era of the judges in Israel's history. |
| Rom 13:3-4 | For rulers are not a terror to good conduct... but God's servant for your good... to carry out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. | Civil authority established by God to administer justice. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil... | Submission to human authorities as agents of justice. |
| Gen 28:17-19 | He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. | Bethel as "House of God" - a holy site from early Israelite history. |
| Josh 4:19-20 | The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal... | Gilgal as the first camp in Canaan, covenant site. |
| Josh 5:2-9 | ...circumcised the people of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. | Gilgal as a place of national renewal and deliverance. |
| Gen 31:49 | ...Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight.” | Mizpah as a place of covenant, watchtower. |
| Judg 20:1 | Then all the people of Israel came out... to the Lord at Mizpah. | Mizpah as a site for tribal/national gatherings. |
| 1 Sam 7:5-6 | Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah... and Israel assembled at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord... confessing... | Mizpah as the location of national repentance and assembly. |
1 Samuel 7 verses
1 Samuel 7 16 Meaning
1 Samuel 7:16 describes the unwavering and systematic nature of Samuel's judicial ministry over Israel. After Israel's repentance and victory at Ebenezer, Samuel established a regular circuit, traveling annually between specific, historically significant locations—Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah—to administer justice and resolve disputes for the people. This demonstrates his commitment to upholding God's covenant and ensuring righteous governance throughout the nation following a period of spiritual and national decline.
1 Samuel 7 16 Context
This verse is situated immediately after a significant spiritual revival in Israel led by Samuel. In 1 Samuel 7, Samuel calls the people to repentance, urging them to cast off their foreign gods and serve the Lord alone. Following their assembly and fasting at Mizpah, the Philistines attacked. However, through Samuel's intercession and God's miraculous intervention, the Philistines were decisively defeated, leading to a period of peace (1 Sam 7:3-14). With the land delivered, Samuel fully establishes himself as a faithful judge. Verse 16 describes the ongoing, structured manifestation of his leadership, solidifying the re-establishment of righteous order and adherence to the covenant in Israel. It highlights the practical outworking of his role as the leader who guided Israel from a period of national apostasy and oppression into one of restoration and order before the advent of the monarchy.
1 Samuel 7 16 Word analysis
- And he went (וְהָלַךְ, v'halakh): This verbal form indicates a habitual or continuous action. It implies a deliberate, repeated journey, not a singular event. Samuel was proactive in performing his duties.
- from year to year (מִשָּׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה, mi-shanah b'shanah): This Hebrew idiom strongly emphasizes regularity and consistency. It signifies an annual, predictable circuit. This highlights Samuel's sustained dedication over a long period, providing stable leadership.
- in circuit (בְּסֹבֵב, b'sovev): Derived from a root meaning "to go around" or "encircle." This phrase vividly paints a picture of Samuel following a predefined route. It denotes a planned, cyclical journey through a specific set of locations to cover the assigned territory effectively.
- to Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-El): Meaning "House of God." A site of profound religious significance from patriarchal times (Jacob's ladder, Gen 28). It was a prominent northern cultic and judicial center, and a gathering place. Samuel's presence here underscored its continued importance in the spiritual and civil life of Israel under the covenant.
- and Gilgal (וְהַגִּלְגָּל, v'ha-Gilgal): Meaning "rolling" or "circle of stones." Historically, Gilgal was the first Israelite encampment after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4), a site of circumcision (Josh 5), and covenant renewal. It served as a vital early national and religious center. Its inclusion in Samuel's circuit links his ministry to foundational moments in Israelite history.
- and Mizpeh (וְהַמִּצְפָּה, v'ha-Mitzpah): Meaning "watchtower." This site was crucial in the immediate context (1 Sam 7:5-12), as it was where Israel repented and assembled before their victory over the Philistines. It had a history as a significant gathering place for the tribes (Judges 20) and for covenant arrangements (Gen 31). Its strategic location near Benjamin, close to Samuel's home at Ramah (1 Sam 7:17), made it a natural judicial hub.
- and judged (וְשָׁפַט, v'shafat): From the root "שָׁפָט" (shapat), which encapsulates more than just legal arbitration. It refers to a multifaceted role that included rendering verdicts, administering civil affairs, mediating disputes, providing guidance, and upholding the covenant laws of God. This indicates Samuel was fulfilling the full spectrum of his God-given role.
- Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrael): Signifies the entire nation of God's people. Samuel's jurisdiction and ministry extended across the collective tribes, highlighting his universal acceptance and authority as God's appointed leader.
- in all those places (בְּכָל־הַמְּקוֹמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, b'chol ha-meqomot ha-elleh): This concluding phrase reinforces that Samuel was not merely visiting but actively exercising his full judicial functions at each of these significant locations. It emphasizes the thoroughness and comprehensiveness of his consistent ministry throughout the regions of Israel he served.
1 Samuel 7 16 Bonus section
The establishment of this judicial circuit highlights a critical aspect of God's covenant governance: the importance of accessible and consistent justice. In the absence of a king, Samuel, as God's appointed judge and prophet, acted as the primary bridge between God's law and the people's daily lives. This pattern of regional judging aimed to decentralize access to legal authority, preventing a concentration of power and ensuring disputes could be resolved promptly without requiring travel to one central point for everyone in the scattered tribes. It reflects a transition period in Israel's history, where God raised up faithful individuals like Samuel to steward His people through turbulent times, laying groundwork for future leadership structures.
1 Samuel 7 16 Commentary
1 Samuel 7:16 paints a picture of Samuel's diligent and faithful leadership after Israel's spiritual renewal. This verse emphasizes the systematic way Samuel administered justice, traveling a consistent annual circuit to the strategic religious and tribal centers of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. His "from year to year" journeys reveal a man dedicated to the tedious, ongoing work of governance and covenant maintenance, ensuring order and equity for a nation recovering from apostasy and foreign oppression. It signifies a period of relative peace and stability where God's righteous standards, enforced through Samuel, were reinstituted in daily life, serving as a powerful demonstration of leadership centered on God's commands rather than human caprice.