Poole on 1 Samuel 7:8: Samuel's Intercession, Part 1

Verse 8:[1] And the children of Israel said to Samuel, (Is. 37:4) Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us (Heb. Be not silent from us from crying unto the LORD our God[2]), that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

[They said to Samuel, Cease not to cry, etc.] The Israelites, although stricken with fear, did not deviate from their intention; they did not despair, or seek the Ark, which is brought forth (Martyr). They, yet blushing with the awareness of their sins, were not daring to approach God, just like those in Ezra 9:6; Luke 18:13. Now, they were deferring so to the sanctity of Samuel, that they were judging that one prayer from him would be more efficacious before God, than the prayers of all others (Mendoza).

[אַל־תַּחֲרֵ֣שׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ מִזְּעֹ֖ק] Be not silent from us, from crying (Montanus) (or crying [Tigurinus Notes], or from praying [Jonathan], or that thou criest not [Septuagint]). Be not silent in crying for us (Pagnine), that is, do not leave or forsake us, that thou criest not continually to Jehovah (Vatablus). Thou shalt not be silent for us, that thou criest not (Junius and Tremellius, similarly Tigurinus). Thou shalt not cease from us. Hebrew: thou shalt not be silent. It is a Synecdoche of species (Piscator). הֶחֱרִישׁ signifies both to be silent, and to be at rest, to cease. For one that is silent ceases to speak. It appears to be derived from חֵרֵשׁ/mute (Drusius).

Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us: We are ashamed and afraid to look God in the face, because of our great wickedness this day remembered and acknowledged; do thou therefore intercede for us, as Moses did for his generation.

[1] Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל אַל־תַּחֲרֵ֣שׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ מִזְּעֹ֖ק אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּ מִיַּ֥ד פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ [2] Hebrew: אַל־תַּחֲרֵ֣שׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ מִזְּעֹ֖ק אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ.