And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar unto Jehovah.
And his base was at Ramah, where his house was; there he was judge of Israel and there he made an altar to the Lord.
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.
His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.
And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar unto the LORD.
And there he built an altar - Whether this altar was in connection with the tabernacle or not we have no means of deciding, since we are in complete ignorance as to where the tabernacle was at this time, or who was High Priest, or where he resided. It is quite possible that Samuel may have removed the tabernacle from Shiloh to some place near to Ramah; and indeed it is in itself improbable that, brought up as he was from infancy in the service of the tabernacle, he should have left it. At the beginning of Solomon's reign we know it was at Gibeon, close to Raimah 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:3, 2 Chronicles 1:6. If the tabernacle had been at Shiloh at this time, it is likely that Shiloh would have been one of the places at which Samuel judged lsrael. But Shiloh was probably waste, and perhaps unsafe on account of the Philistines.
7:17 Built an altar - That by joining sacrifices with his prayers, he might the better obtain direction and assistance from God upon all emergencies. And this was done by prophetical inspiration, as appears by God's acceptance of the sacrifices offered upon it. Indeed Shiloh being now laid waste, and no other place yet appointed for them to bring their offerings to, the law which obliged them to one place, was for the present suspended. Therefore, as the patriarchs did, he built an altar where he lived: and that not only for the use of his own family, but for the good of the country who resorted to it.