The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 4
Chapter IV · Vol. II, pp. 634–636
1 The Israelites are smitten by the Philistines at Ebenezer. 3 They fetch the ark to the terror of the Philistines. 10 They are smitten again, the ark taken; Hophni and Phinehas are slain. 12 Eli at the news, falling backward, breaketh his neck. 19 Phinehas' wife, through grief, falleth in labour, is delivered of Ichabod, and dieth.
1 And the word of Samuel acame to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside bEben-ezer:1 and the Philistines pitched in cAphek.
B.C. 1096 or 1116.
a Or, came to pass, ch.3.11. Samson had killed many Philistines, Ju.16.30.
b ch.7.12; 5.1.
1 The name Ebenezer ('stone of help') was not given to this place till a later period, ch. 7. 12; but as it became a noted place, and as the name became historical, it is here employed by the sacred writer.—P.
c Jos.15.53, or 19.30. 1 Ki.20.30.
2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined 2battle, dIsrael was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
2 Heb. the battle was spread.
d Jos.7.4,5,12. Ps.106.41; 78.62.
3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, eWherefore hath the LORD smitten us to-day before the Philistines? fLet us fetch3 the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.4
e De.29.24. Jos.7.7,8. Je.22.8. La.3.40.
f ch.14.18. Nu.14.44,45; 31.6. Jos.5.15-17; 6.4,5. 2 Sa.15.25. Je.7.4,8.
3 Heb. take unto us.
4 Nothing is more common than to trust in emblems rather than realities. The ark here obtains the confidence due to God alone. So Christians sometimes look upon prayer, baptism, and the Lord's supper as able to save them, whereas they are but guides to the 'Lamb of God,' and mere dead elements without the Spirit of life.—C.
4 So gthe people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the hark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth betweeni the cherubims:5 and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there kwith the ark of the covenant of God.
g ch.1.3. Jos.18.1. Ju.18.31. Ps.78.60. Je.7.12,14.
h Nu.10.33. Ex.34.28. De.10.1-5.
A.M. 2909 B.C. 1095
i 2 Sa.6.12. 2 Ki.19.15. Ps.80.1; 99.1. Ex.25.20-22. Nu.7.89.
5 That is, on the mercy-seat.—Note, No throne but that of mercy can be approached by a sinner.—C.
k Nu.4.15; 10.33. De.31.26. 2 Sa.15.24. He.9.4. ver.3.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, lall Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? Andm they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
m ver.3-5.
7 And the Philistines nwere afraid; for they said, God is come into the camp.6 And they said, Wo unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.7
n Ex.14.25; 15.14. De.32.30,31.
6 When the Philistines acknowledged God, why did they not prepare to obey him? Because they acknowledged him but as the local, or at most the national God of Israel. They admitted his being, not his attributes.—C.
7 Heb. yesterday, or the third day.
8 Wo unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that osmote the Egyptians with all the plagues8 in the wilderness.9
9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men,1 O ye Philistines! that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, pas they have been to you: quit2 yourselves like men, and fight.
1 Whoever has read the writings of the heathen, such as Homer, one of their highest authorities, must have observed that they considered men often completely competent to fight against their gods and goddesses, and sometimes to have discomfited them in single combat.—C.
p De.28.47,48. Ju.13.1; 10.7.
2 Heb. be men.
10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled qevery man into his tent: and there rwas a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
q 2 Sa.20.1. 1 Ki.12.16; 22.36. 2 Ki.14.12.
r Le.26.25. De.28.25. Ps.78.62. Is.10.3-6. Je.7.12,32.
11 And sthe ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.3
s Ps.78.61,64; 140.11. ch.2.34. Is.3.11. Pr.1.31; 13.21.
3 Heb. died.
12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day witht his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.4
13 And when he came, lo, Eli usat upon a seat by the way-side watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out.
u ch.1.9. Ps.137.5,6; 69.9; 119.139. 2 Co.11.27,28.
14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15 Now Eli xwas ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim,5 that he could not see.
x Ps.90.10. ch.3.2. Ge.27.1-39.
5 Heb. stood.
16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, What is there 6done, my son?
A.M. 2909 B.C. 1095
6 Heb. is the thing.
17 And the messenger answered and said, yIsrael is fled before the Philistines; and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people; and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God is taken.
y ver.10,11.
18 And it came to pass, zwhen he made mention of the ark of God,7 that he fell from off the seat backward, by athe side of the gate, and his bneck brake, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy: and he had judged Israel forty years.
z Ps.137.5,6; 26.8; 42.3,10. Phi.3.8,9. La.2.15-19.
7 Eli seems a man sincerely pious, but, through mistaken tenderness, weakly pliable; by over indulgence rendering his sons regardless of his parental admonitions, and so bringing them to an ignominious end, his country to ruin, his religion to disgrace, and his own gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. His piety, however, seems predominant, for he bears the whole catalogue of national and family calamities till the capture of the ark is mentioned—his heart can bear no more—he falls fainting, and dies; a monumental warning to parents, church rulers, and governors, and a melancholy illustration of the fact, that one practical imperfection of temper, or management, may neutralize or destroy the effect of many excellences.—C.
a ch.1.9; ver.13.
b ch.2.31,32; 3.12,13. 2 Ki.23.29. Ec.9.1,2. Ps.36.6. Ro.11.33.
19 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered:8 and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came9 upon her.
8 Or, to cry out.
9 Heb. were turned.
20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, cFear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, dneither did she regard it.
c Ge.35.17,18. Jn.16.20.
21 And she named the child eI-chabod, saying, fThe glory is departed from Israel: (because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law, and her husband:)
22 And gshe said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.
g ver.18. Ne.2.3. Ps.137.5,6; 26.8; 69.9; 119.139. Phi.2.4. 2 Co.11.27,28. Jn.2.17.
Notes
Reflections.—Lesser judgments only exasperate hardened sinners against the Lord, instead of making them search their ways and return to him; while those who are most destitute of the power of godliness glory in, and trust to, their external forms and privileges.—Sinners are often perfectly secure when their destruction comes upon them as a whirlwind. And a good cause may fearfully suffer for the wickedness of those who espouse it. But, very justly, the first and sorest judgments light on the heads of wicked and unfaithful ministers: and quickly they who refused to shed the tears of godly sorrow, are made to shriek under the strokes of judgment. How near the heart of exercised saints do the ark and church of God lie! Yet God pursues his offending servants to the very brink of eternity with awful frowns and fearful strokes; and if they will be unfaithful, they must die without comfort. Pregnant women have need to be in readiness for death; for in an hour which they think not, the Son of man may require their soul. But how great is the misery of a nation when the ordinances and presence of God, which are the glory thereof, are taken from it! Draw near, ye careless, ye indulgent parents, and tremble; behold in what ruin to your family and nation your conduct may issue!