Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Samuel 4:18-22
The Tragic Aftermath Of The News From The Battlefield (1 Samuel 4:18).
The shattering news from the battlefield caused the blind old man to fall backwards and break his neck, while his daughter-in-law, who was pregnant, went into premature labour at the news, bearing a son, and then dying after first naming the child Ichabod because ‘the glory had departed' from Israel. The reader would note the contrast between the name of Ichabod (‘where is the glory' or ‘no glory') and the name of Samuel (Shemuel), ‘name of God' or ‘God hears'. It will be noted that in both cases the news that disturbed them most was that the Ark of God had been taken. That was something that was almost inconceivable to them. The most sacred possession in the Tabernacle, the very throne of YHWH and guarantee of His presence, and it had been lost to the enemy. What was Israel to do now? (The readers know the answer. It lies in God's new prophet Samuel. They know that he is the one who will still bring the word of YHWH to Israel).
Analysis. .
a And it came about that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his seat backwards by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died. For he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (1 Samuel 4:18).
b And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to the time of delivery, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and bore her child, for her labour pains came on her (1 Samuel 4:19).
c And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don't be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it”.
b And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband (1 Samuel 4:20).
a And she said, “The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark of God is taken” (1 Samuel 4:22).
Note that in ‘a' Eli dies because the Ark of God is taken, and in the parallel the dying wife of Phinehas declares that ‘the glory is departed because the Ark of God is taken'. In ‘b' the wife hears that the Ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and husband are dead, and bows herself and bears a child, and in the parallel she names the child Ichabod because the Ark of God is taken and because her father-in-law and husband are dead. In ‘c' and centrally she is in such trauma at the news that she finds no joy in the birth of her son.
‘ And it came about that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his seat backwards by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died. For he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.'
When the old man heard the news about the Ark he fell backwards at the side of the gate, and because he was an old man and heavy he broke his neck and died. He had judged Israel for ‘forty years', that is, for over a generation. Presumably his father, the previous High Priest had died when Eli was around sixty to seventy years of age.
‘ And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to the time of delivery, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and bore her child, for her pains came on her.'
When the pregnant wife of the dead Phinehas heard the news that the Ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, it was all too much. She went into premature labour and bore a son. She had lost everything she had lived for at one go. But the nature of the birth was such that it killed her. She survived just long enough to name the child.
‘ And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don't be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.”
The women around her tried to encourage her. They pointed out that she had borne a son, the dream of every Israelite woman. But she was so traumatised that it meant nothing to her. She was totally unmoved.
‘ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
Her last act was to name the child ‘Ichabod' which means ‘no glory' or ‘where is glory?' declaring that the glory was departed from Israel. This was for a threefold reason. Firstly because the Ark of God was taken. Secondly because the High Priest was dead. And thirdly because her own husband was also dead.
‘ And she said, “The glory is departed from Israel,” for the ark of God was taken.'
The writer then draws attention to what was for Israel the most dreaded news of all. She had said ‘the glory is departed from Israel' BECAUSE THE ARK OF GOD WAS TAKEN. The ‘glory' of a nation indicated its most treasured possessions (see Isaiah 17:3). And it had lost its most treasured and revered possession. Israel must have been stunned at this news. It was now clear that YHWH had deserted them. He had preferred to go with the Philistines. All was lost.
But what was the truth of the matter? Why has YHWH removed the Ark from Israel? Surely it is because the priesthood, who gained such prestige from the Ark and the worship related to it, had proved to be unworthy. Thus YHWH has removed the Ark from Israel as an indication that He is no longer their King because of their evil ways, while being at the same time about to demonstrate to the Philistines His essential superiority as Lord over all.
But He will eventually replace it with another symbol of His presence, the mighty prophet Samuel. The glory has not departed. It is growing up amongst them. And YHWH will also restore the Ark to Israel in order to demonstrate that His offer to be their King is still open, awaiting its due time, although it will be put into suitable storage until that time comes.
For Samuel will eventually be followed by the true king of Israel, archetype of the coming everlasting King. It is thus only once Samuel has brought the people back to God and to true faith in YHWH, and when the true archetype of God's future blessing is on the throne, that the Ark will be reinstated for public worship. Meanwhile it will still be the symbol of YHWH's Kingship over His people, demonstrate practically by the Spirit anointed deliverers that He will provide for them.
And there is another reason for what has happened here. And that is that YHWH wants to bring home to the Philistines the terror of YHWH. This terror must have shaped their attitude towards Israel and its God for a long while to come.