1Sa 7:3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Sam 7:3-10: 7:3-10 The change in the people’s standing with God, not the presence of the Ark (see 4:3-11 ), led Israel to victory against the Philistines. 7:3 People cannot expect God’s blessing unless they get rid of what is contrary to his will (see Gen 35:2 ; Josh 24:14 ). • Ashtoreth was the Canaanite goddess of fertility associated with Baal (1 Sam 7:4 ). Worship of Canaanite deities was an ongoing problem throughout Israel’s history. The people started worshiping idols during the twenty-year period mentioned in 7:2 , or perhaps they had done so ever since the days of the judges (8:8 ; Judg 6:25 ; cp. Amos 5:25-26 ). Israel’s devastating defeat by the Philistines was due not only to the sins of Eli’s two sons but to several generations of unfaithfulness to God.

a7:3-10►

b4:3-11►

c7:3►

dGen 35:2►

eJosh 24:14►

f1 Sam 7:4►

g7:2►

h8:8►

iJudg 6:25►

jAmos 5:25-26►

‏ 1 Samuel 7:3

Summary for 1Sam 7:3-10: 7:3-10 ^a The change in the people’s standing with God, not the presence of the Ark (see 4:3-11 ^b), led Israel to victory against the Philistines. 7:3 ^c People cannot expect God’s blessing unless they get rid of what is contrary to his will (see Gen 35:2 ^d; Josh 24:14 ^e).

• Ashtoreth was the Canaanite goddess of fertility associated with Baal (1 Sam 7:4 ^f). Worship of Canaanite deities was an ongoing problem throughout Israel’s history. The people started worshiping idols during the twenty-year period mentioned in 7:2 ^g, or perhaps they had done so ever since the days of the judges (8:8 ^h; Judg 6:25 ⁱ; cp. Amos 5:25-26 ^j). Israel’s devastating defeat by the Philistines was due not only to the sins of Eli’s two sons but to several generations of unfaithfulness to God.