And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
Ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord. The "temple" seems to have become the established designation of the tabernacle, and the time indicated was toward the morning twilight, as the lamps were extinguished at sunrise (see the note at Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:2-3; 2 Chronicles 13:11). "Lamp" х geer (H1616), the candelabrum, or golden candlestick; Septuagint, ho luchnos tou Theou prin episkeuastheenai]. Kimchi gives the following gloss upon the words-`If this be spoken concerning the lamps in the candlestick, the communication was made to Samuel somewhat before day; because the lamps burnt from even until morning; yet did they sometimes some of them go out in the night. They put oil into them by such a measure as should keep them burning from even until morning, and many times they did burn until morning; and they always found the western lamp burning. Now it is said that this prophecy came to Samuel "before the lamp went out" - i:e., while it was not yet light, about the time of cock-crowing; because it is said afterward that Samuel lay until morning. Allegorically, it speaks of the lamp of prophecy: as it is said, the sun arises and the sun sets: before the holy, blessed God cause the sun of one righteous to set, he causeth that of another righteous man to rise. Before Moses' sun set, Joshua's sun arose; before Eli's sun set, Samuel's sun arose; and this is that which is said, "before the lamp of God went out."'