1 Samuel 4:3-11 NASB,NASB

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

And the ark of God was taken ,.... By the Philistines; which was suffered partly as a punishment to the Israelites, for fetching it from the tabernacle without the will of God, and for their vain confidence in it; and partly that the Philistines might have an experiment of the power and might of God, as Procopius Gazaeus observes, by what they would suffer through having it among them; some have thought that this was an emblem of Christ being delivered into the hands of the Gentiles, and of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:3

Let us fetch the ark - They vainly supposed that the ark could save them, when the God of it had departed from them because of their wickedness. They knew that in former times their fathers had been beaten by their enemies, when they took not the ark with them to battle; as in the case of their wars with the Canaanites, Numbers 14:44 , Numbers 14:45 ; and that they had conquered when they took this with them, as in the case of the destruction of Jericho, Joshua 6:4 . From the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:4

The Lord of hosts - See on 1 Samuel 1:3 ; (note). Dwelleth between the cherubims - Of what shape the cherubim were, we know not; but there was one of these representative figures placed at each end of the ark of the covenant; and between them, on the lid or cover of that ark, which was called the propitiatory or mercy-seat, the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine presence, was said to dwell. They thought, therefore, if they had the ark, they must necessarily have the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:5

All Israel shouted - Had they humbled themselves, and prayed devoutly and fervently for success, they would have been heard and saved. Their shouting proved both their vanity and irreligion. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:7

God is come into the camp - They took for granted, as did the Israelites, that his presence was inseparable from his ark or shrine. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:8

These mighty Gods - האדרים האלהים מיד miyad haelohim haaddirim , from the hand of these illustrious Gods. Probably this should be translated in the singular, and not in the plural: Who shall deliver us from the hand of this illustrious God? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:9

Be strong , etc. - This was the address to the whole army, and very forcible it was. "If ye do not fight, and acquit yourselves like men, ye will be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you; and you may expect that they will avenge themselves of you for all the cruelty you have exercised towards them." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:11

Hophni and Phinehas were slain - They probably attempted to defend the ark, and lost their lives in the attempt. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Moral causes of disaster. Assuming that the first sentence properly belongs to the third chapter, and refers generally to the acceptance of Samuel as prophet by the whole nation, the section ( 1 Samuel 4:1-11 ) sets forth the following facts:— 1 . Israel, suffering from subjection to the Philistines, enters on war for the recovery of freedom and suffers defeat. 2 . Ordinary means failing, recourse is had to the ark of God in order to insure success. 3 . The visible presence... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:3

When the people were come into the camp. Before the battle Israel had entrenched itself, so that upon its defeat it had a place capable of defence into which to retire. We find also that their communications were open, so that they could send to Shiloh. The army is called the people because battles were not fought in those days by men specially trained, but by all the inhabitants of the country of the proper age. The question, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us? expresses surprise. The... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:3

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