1 Samuel 4:6

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

CHAPTER VI.THE ARK OF GOD TAKEN BY THE PHILISTINES.1 Samuel 4:1-22.WE are liable to form an erroneous impression of the connection of Samuel with the transactions of this chapter, in consequence of a clause which ought to belong to the last chapter, being placed, in the Authorized Version, at the beginning of this. The clause "And the word of Samuel came to all Israel" belongs really to the preceding chapter. It denotes that Samuel was now over all Israel the recognized channel of communication... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

5. The judgment of Eli and His Sons--Ichabod CHAPTER 4 1. The fulfilled prediction: The death of Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 4:1-11 ) 2. The death of Eli (1 Samuel 4:12-18 ) 3. Ichabod (1 Samuel 4:19-22 ) Israel then renewed the conflict with the Philistines and suffered defeat. It seems that they acted in self-confidence, and when the battle was lost they readily acknowledged the hand of the Lord in the disaster: “Wherefore has the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines?” But there was... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Verse 1 shows that Samuel did not conceal the word that God gave to him, but communicated it to all Israel. But it is not said that it was this word that called them to battle with the Philistines. It seems the battle was initiated by Israel, however. They pitch near Eben-ezer, which means "the stone of help," evidently confident of God's help apart from His word and apart from the recognition of His rights among His people. The Philistines pitch in Aphek, meaning "restraint," which perhaps... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

ELI ’S DEATH ; THE LOSS OF THE ARK GOD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:0 ) “The word of the Lord was precious [or rare] in those days” (1 Samuel 3:1 ) is introductory to the record that it was now heard in the case of Samuel. It was Israel’s sin that hid God’s face from them and caused His voice to be silent so long only twice heard during the period of the Judges (Judges 4:4 ; Judges 6:8 ) but He was again to be gracious unto them in this respect, and a new epoch was to open in their... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The Ark of God 1Sa 4:3 IN order to understand the full import of these words, we must carefully study the idea which the ark of the Lord was intended to represent. The twenty-fifth chapter of the Book of Exodus gives a most minutely detailed account of the making of the tabernacle. God gave Moses a special description of the proposed sanctuary. He did not consult Moses, nor did he make suggestions which Moses was to submit to the consideration of the people of Israel. God laid down the whole... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:6-9

(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? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. (7) And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. (8) Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-9

1-9 Israel is smitten before the Philistines. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. They own the hand of God in their trouble; but, instead of submitting, they speak angrily, as not aware of any just provocation they had given him. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and then his heart frets against the Lord, Proverbs 19:3, and finds fault with him. They supposed that they could oblige God to appear for them, by bringing the... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

The Ark of the Covenant in Camp v. 1. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel, it was heard throughout the nation and served for the guidance of Israel, the people accepted it without question as the Word of Jehovah. Now, Israel went out against the Philistines, who at that time were their oppressors, to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer, a place between Mizpeh and Shen which was afterwards given this name, 1 Samuel 7:12; and the Philistines pitched in Aphek, also some distance west or... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 4:2-11

SECOND DIVISIONSAMUEL’S WORK AS PROPHET, PRIEST AND JUDGE1 Samuel 4:1-71 Samuel 4:1-71 Samuel 4:1-7FIRST SECTIONInfliction of the Punishment prophesied by Samuel on the House of Eli and on all Israel in the unfortunate Battle with the Philistines1 Samuel 4:1 to 1 Samuel 7:1I. Israel’s double defeat and loss of the Ark. 1 Samuel 4:1-111Now1 [And] Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside 2Ebenezer2; and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. And the Philistines put... read more

Alexander MacLaren

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

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