John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth , etc.] Both their male and female deities, of which (see Judges 2:13 3:7) and served the Lord Only ; Dr. Lightfoot observes, that a spirit of repentance and conversion came generally upon all the people; a matter and a time as remarkable as almost any we read of in Scripture, one only parallel to it; and that is in Acts, chapters two and three, at the great conversion there.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them the hearts of others shall be inclined to receive it. It is no ne thing for God's ark to be in a private house. Christ and his apostle preached from house to house, when they could not have public places Twenty years passed before the house of Israel cared for the want of the ark. During this time the prophet Samuel laboured to revive tru religion. The few words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most effectual revivals of religion which ever took place in Israel.
Original Hebrew ויסירו5493 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 את853 הבעלים1168 ואת853 העשׁתרת6252 ויעבדו5647 את853 יהוה3068 לבדו׃905
