John Calvin Commentary Psalms 78:62

"He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance." — Psalms 78:62 (ASV)

And he shut up his people to the sword. Other parts of the calamity that befell Israel in the time of the high priest Eli are mentioned here. God, in permitting the ark to be carried away, showed that he had withdrawn his favor from them. This was also demonstrated by the fact that all the flower of the people—those who were in the prime of their manhood—were consumed by the wrath of God, which is expressed by the fire devouring them.

But this language is metaphorical, as is evident from the history of the event referred to. This history informs us that those from the chosen of Israel who perished, numbering thirty thousand men, fell by the sword of the enemy, and not by fire (1 Samuel 4:10). This figure points out the suddenness of the dreadful calamity. It is as if it had been said, They were destroyed in a moment, even as fire quickly consumes chaff and the dry leaves of trees.

The great extent of this slaughter is heightened by another figure: for want of men, the maidens continued unmarried. This is the meaning of the clause, Their virgins were not applauded; the reference is to the nuptial songs that were usually sung at marriages in praise of the bride. To aggravate still more the unusual and appalling nature of the calamity, it is added that even the priests, whom God had taken under his special protection, perished indiscriminately with others.

When it is said that the widows made no lamentation, I would explain this as denoting either that they themselves died first from sorrow, so that they had no opportunity to mourn for others, or else that, when led captive by their enemies, they were forbidden to mourn. By all these expressions, the object is to show, in a few words, that all kinds of calamities were heaped upon them.