1 Samuel 4:10, 1 Samuel 4:3 WEB

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:10-11

10,11 The taking of the ark was a great judgment upon Israel, and a certain token of God's displeasure. Let none think to shelter themselves from the wrath of God, under the cloak of outward profession. 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

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Trusting in the Ark, not in God 1 Samuel 4:1-11 The predictions against Eli’s house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The crisis of judgment foretold by Samuel to Eli now arrived. It was a Philistine attack on the people, in which large numbers were slain, among them the two sons of Eli. On hearing the news Eli himself died, as did also the wife of one of the sons in giving birth to a boy, whose name in dying she pronounced Ichabod. It was a terrible and significant name, indicating that the glory of Jehovah had departed. Perhaps the most significant teaching in this story is derived from a consideration of... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The Ark Taken by the Philistines 1 Samuel 4:1-22 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We would like to suggest something of the history of the Ark of the Covenant. 1. The Ark was symbolical of Christ Jesus our Lord. The shittim wood stood for the body of our Lord, and linked Him to humanity. The wood overlaid with pure gold within and without, demonstrated how Christ was very God of very God; God the Son, and Son of God; God manifested in flesh. The staves of wood covered with gold, with the rings where the... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

1 Samuel 4:1 b. Now Israel . . . 1 Samuel 4:1 (E).— From Ancient History of the Ark ( cf. above, p. 273). 1 Samuel 4:1 b – 1 Samuel 4:11 . The Israelites, Defeated by the Philistines, Fetch the Ark. They are again Defeated. 1 Samuel 4:1 . Philistines: pp. 56f., 66f.— Eben-ezer: “ Stone of Help” ( cf. 1 Samuel 7:12). Sites of Eben-ezer and Aphek ( 1 Kings 20:26 *) not known, probably NW. of Jerusalem, either near the city, or on the inland edge of the Maritime Plain. 1 Samuel 4:3 . ark of... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 4:10

Into his tent, i.e. to his habitation, called by the ancient name of his tent. Before they lost but four thousand, now in the presence of the ark thirty thousand, to teach them that the ark and ordinances of God were never designed for sanctuaries or refuges to impenitent sinners, but only for the comfort and relief of those that repent. Horsemen are not mentioned; either, first, Because they had few or none, God having forbidden the multiplication of their horses, Deuteronomy 17:16, and the... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:3-11

CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES—1 Samuel 4:1. “And the word of Samuel,” etc. Commentators are divided in their opinions whether this clause is connected with the rest of the chapter, and whether it signifies that Israel went out to battle by the command of Samuel. Many think they entered into the conflict without Divine direction; but Keil says, “The two clauses, ‘The word of Samuel came to all Israel’ and ‘Israel went out,’ etc., are to be logically connected together in the following sense: ‘At... read more