1 Samuel 4:2

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - 1 Samuel 4:1-18

1 Samuel FAITHLESSNESS AND DEFEAT 1Sa_4:1 - 1Sa_4:18 . The first words of 1Sa_4:1 are closely connected with the end of 1Sa_3:1 - 1Sa_3:21 , and complete the account of Samuel’s inauguration. ‘The word of the Lord’ came to Samuel, and ‘the word of Samuel came to all Israel.’ The one clause tells of the prophet’s inspiration, the other of his message and its reception by the nation. This bond of union between the clauses has been broken by the chapter division, apparently for the sake of... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Trusting in the Ark, not in God 1 Samuel 4:1-11 The predictions against Eli’s house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The crisis of judgment foretold by Samuel to Eli now arrived. It was a Philistine attack on the people, in which large numbers were slain, among them the two sons of Eli. On hearing the news Eli himself died, as did also the wife of one of the sons in giving birth to a boy, whose name in dying she pronounced Ichabod. It was a terrible and significant name, indicating that the glory of Jehovah had departed. Perhaps the most significant teaching in this story is derived from a consideration of... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The Ark Taken by the Philistines 1 Samuel 4:1-22 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We would like to suggest something of the history of the Ark of the Covenant. 1. The Ark was symbolical of Christ Jesus our Lord. The shittim wood stood for the body of our Lord, and linked Him to humanity. The wood overlaid with pure gold within and without, demonstrated how Christ was very God of very God; God the Son, and Son of God; God manifested in flesh. The staves of wood covered with gold, with the rings where the... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

1 Samuel 4:1 b. Now Israel . . . 1 Samuel 4:1 (E).— From Ancient History of the Ark ( cf. above, p. 273). 1 Samuel 4:1 b – 1 Samuel 4:11 . The Israelites, Defeated by the Philistines, Fetch the Ark. They are again Defeated. 1 Samuel 4:1 . Philistines: pp. 56f., 66f.— Eben-ezer: “ Stone of Help” ( cf. 1 Samuel 7:12). Sites of Eben-ezer and Aphek ( 1 Kings 20:26 *) not known, probably NW. of Jerusalem, either near the city, or on the inland edge of the Maritime Plain. 1 Samuel 4:3 . ark of... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 4:2

When they joined battle, Heb. when the battle was spread, i.e. when the two armies had drawn forth themselves into military order, and put themselves into the usual posture for fighting, and began to fight in their several places. read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

1 Samuel 1-4 (with Judges 21:16-25 ) I. With all his virtues and natural advantages Eli had one great fault. He was a good man of the easy type; the kind of man who makes an admirable servant, who does his duty to perfection so long as his duty merely troubles himself, but who has not force of character to interfere with others; to command, to regulate the conduct of others, to incur the ill-will of others. An amiable indolence overspread his whole nature. He was one of the men who have... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Chapter 4Now in chapter four we find the Philistines had come against the Israelites and they met them in battle and defeated them. Four thousand of the men of Israel were slain. So the Philistines were getting ready to attack again, and the people said, "Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant into the camp in order that the Philistines cannot defeat us."Now they were beginning to look at the Ark of the Covenant as sort of an amulet, a good luck piece in a kind of a thing. "Well if the Ark of the... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

1 Samuel 4:5 . Israel shouted. But why had they not put away their sins? And why had they not enquired of God? Alas, these priests, like Saul in his last moments, were not fit persons to enquire of God. Their guilty consciences augured that God was about to inflict the punishment their father had failed to do. They lost the ark; they lost their country; they lost themselves! 1 Samuel 4:17 . The ark of God is taken, by hands less profane than those of the two Hebrew priests. With Joshua... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:2

1Sa 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. Ver. 2. And the Philistines put themselves in array. ] Heb., Marshalled themselves: to meet Israel, as thinking to hold them under; encouraged, likely, thereunto, because Eli their judge was old and feeble: but God had a holy hand in it, for the just punishment of priests and people. read more

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