And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
Ver. 12. And she continued praying.] Heb., Multiplied to pray; as resolved not to give over her suit. Prayer, like those arrows of deliverance, should be multiplied. Luk 18:1 Misericordiam extorquemas, said those primitive Christians. We wring out of God's holy hands that mercy which he with an unwilling willingness withholdeth for a while, that we may be the more importunate.
Eli marked her mouth.] Saw her lips walk with a strange unusual motion and writhing: but heard no voice, and thereupon misjudged her. Of Dr Gabriel Nele, Bartolus reporteth, a that by the motion of the lips only, without any utterance, he understood all men: yea, that he could read their thoughts in their looks. Whether he could or not, - which I much question, - old Eli it seems could not.
a Lib. i. De Ver. Oblig.