And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
Ver. 10. And as Samuel was offering.] If Numa, king of Rome, could say, when he was sacrificing, and heard of the enemy's approach, Eγω δε θυω, Yea, but I am serving my gods, and therefore I fear them not; a how much more might Samuel say so!
But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day.] As Hannah had foretold; 1Sa 2:10 as happened; Jos 10:10 Jdg 4:15 as also at the prayers of the thundering legion under Antoninus, the emperor; b and in the days of Theodosius, when that good prince, being to fight with Eugenius the tyrant, Dominum Christum solus solum corpore humi fusus mente caelo fixus orabat, he prayed heartily to Jesus Christ, the stars and meteors fought for him, which made Claudian, though a heathen, cry out, O nimium dilecte Deo, &c. c So we read of a terrible tempest that fell upon the Turks, fighting against the Persians, which they imputed to the magicians; but the Lord sent it. d
And they were smitten before Israel.] Who were not slack to set in with God when he, as out of an engine, e appeared for them.
a Plut., in Vita Numae.
b Euseb., lib. v. cap. 5.
c Oros., lib. vii. cap. 35.
d Preacher's Travels, 49.
e απο μηχανης .