1 Samuel 7:2 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Kirjath — jearim — Where it continued, and was not carried to Shiloh its former place, either because that place was destroyed by the Philistines when the ark was taken, or because God would hereby punish the wickedness of the people of Israel, by keeping it in a private place near the Philistines, whether the generality of the people durst not come. Twenty years — He saith not, that this twenty years was all the time of the ark's abode there, for it continued there from Eli's time 'till David's reign, 2 Samuel 6:2, which was forty years: but that it was so long there before the Israelites were sensible of their sin and misery. Lamented — That is, they followed after God with lamentations for his departure, and prayers for his return.