CHAPTER IV _A battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which the former_ _are defeated, with the loss of_ four thousand _men_, 1, 2. _They resolve to give the Philistines battle once more, and bring_ _the ark of the Lord, with Hophni and Phinehas the priests, into_ _the camp_, 3, 4. _They... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:2. _PUT THEMSELVES IN ARRAY_] There is no doubt that both the Philistines and Israelites had what might be called _the art of_ _war_, according to which they marshalled their troops in the field, constructed their camps, and conducted their retreats, sieges, c. but we know not the p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:4. _THE LORD OF HOSTS_] See on 1 Samuel 1:3. _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, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:8. _THESE MIGHTY GODS_] מיד האלהים האדרים _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_?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:9. _BE STRONG, C._] 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:11. _HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS WERE SLAIN._] They probably attempted to defend the ark, and lost their lives in the attempt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:12. _CAME TO SHILOH THE SAME DAY_] The field of battle could not have been at any great distance, for this young man reached Shiloh the same evening after the defeat. _WITH HIS CLOTHES RENT, AND WITH EARTH UPON HIS HEAD._] These were signs of _sorrow_ and _distress_ among all natio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:13. _HIS HEART TREMBLED FOR THE ARK OF GOD_] He was a most mild and affectionate father, and yet the safety of the _ark_ lay nearer to his heart than the safety of his _two sons_. Who can help feeling for this aged, venerable man?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:17. _AND THE MESSENGER ANSWERED_] Never was a more afflictive message, containing such a variety of woes, each rising above the preceding, delivered in so few words. 1. _Israel is fled before the Philistines_. This was a sore evil: that _Israel_ should _turn their backs upon_ _the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:18. _WHEN HE MADE MENTION OF THE ARK OF GOD_] Eli bore all the relation till the messenger came to this solemn word; he had _trembled_ before _for the ark_, and now, hearing that it was _captured_, he was transfixed with grief, fell down from his seat, and dislocated his neck! Behol... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:19. _AND HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW_] This is another very affecting story; the defeat of Israel, the capture of the ark, the death of her father-in-law, and the slaughter of her husband, were more than a woman in her circumstances, near the time of her delivery could bear. She bowed, trav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:20. _BUT SHE ANSWERED NOT_] She paid no attention to what the women had said concerning her having borne a son; that information she _regarded not_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 4:21. _SHE NAMED THE CHILD I-CHABOD_] The versions are various on the original words כבוד _I-chabod_; the _Septuagint_, ουαιβαρχαβωθ _ouaibrachaboth_; the _Syriac_, [Syriac] _yochobor_; the Arabic, [Arabic] _yochabad_. But none of these give us much light on the subject. It is pretty... [ Continue Reading ]