1 Samuel 4:3

3. Wherefore Having undertaken the battle at the word of the Lord by Samuel, they had not dreamed of defeat, for why should God counsel them to go to war, and then deliver them over to defeat by a heathen foe?

Let us fetch the ark Their fathers conquered the Midianites when they carried with them into the war “the holy instruments,” (Numbers 31:6,) and Jericho fell when the ark was carried around it, (Joshua 6:0,) and they now vainly suppose that the same ark will surely save them from the hand of the foe. Previous to this, at the time of the Benjamite war, the ark had been removed from Shiloh, and abode for a time at Beth-el. Judges 20:27. Then, as now, the Israelites were counselled of God to go to war, but were nevertheless defeated. But then, as now, they were also themselves not without sin, and their arrogance and self-confidence needed to be deeply humbled.