Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-9

The first words of this paragraph, which relate to Samuel, that his word came to all Israel, seem not to have any reference to the following story, as if it was by any direction of his that the Israelites went out against the Philistines. Had they consulted him, though but newly initiated as a prophet, his counsel might have stood them in more stead than the presence of the ark did; but perhaps the princes of Israel despised his youth, and would not have recourse to him as an oracle, and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel ,.... Or was "known", as the Targum, the word of prophecy by him, which related to what befell Eli and his family; this was spread throughout the land, and everyone almost had knowledge of it, and which began to be fulfilled in the war between Israel and the Philistines, later related; or the doctrine, instructions, and exhortations of Samuel to the people of Israel, were by the means of others conveyed throughout the land; and yet they went into... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1

The word of Samuel came to all Israel - This clause certainly belongs to the preceding chapter, and is so placed by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. Pitched beside Eben-ezer - This name was not given to this place till more than twenty years after this battle, see 1 Samuel 7:12 ; for the monument called העזר האבן haeben haezer , the "Stone of Help," was erected by Samuel in the place which was afterwards from this circumstance, called Eben-ezer, when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1

EXPOSITION And the word of Samuel... all Israel. This clause is rightly connected with the foregoing verse of the previous chapter in the Syriac and Vulgate. Attached to the fourth chapter, it gives a wrong sense, namely, that Samuel gave the command for the assembling of all Israel for battle with the Philistines. This is so plainly erroneous that the A.V. dissents from it by translating the and in the next clause by now. Joined to the previous chapter, it gives the true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Moral causes of disaster. Assuming that the first sentence properly belongs to the third chapter, and refers generally to the acceptance of Samuel as prophet by the whole nation, the section ( 1 Samuel 4:1-11 ) sets forth the following facts:— 1 . Israel, suffering from subjection to the Philistines, enters on war for the recovery of freedom and suffers defeat. 2 . Ordinary means failing, recourse is had to the ark of God in order to insure success. 3 . The visible presence... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1

Some attach the opening words to the close of 1 Samuel 3:0, as the complement of what is there said, “The Lord revealed himself to Samuel ... in Shiloh, and the word of Samuel went forth to all Israel.” If placed at the commencement of 1 Samuel 4:0, and in connection with what follows, they are to be understood in the sense that Samuel called all Israel to battle against the Philistines. (Compare 1 Samuel 7:5.) But this is not the natural interpretation of the words, which seem clearly to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 4:1

1 Samuel 4:1. The word of Samuel came to all Israel The revelation of God’s mind and will, which had been very rare among them in former days, (1 Samuel 3:1,) now became frequent and plentiful. For as Samuel himself was ready to instruct every one that came to him, so he instituted schools or colleges of prophets, (as we read in the following parts of this book,) which, in time, were settled in divers parts of the country, for the better preserving and spreading the knowledge of God among... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

The Philistines capture the ark (4:1-22)For many years the Philistines had oppressed Israel (Judges 13:1). Samson had begun to save Israel from them (Judges 13:5), but the Philistines now fought back and decided to extend their rule further into Israel’s territory. The Israelites should have realized that their defeats were God’s punishments upon them because of their sin, and turned to him in repentance. Instead they thought that they would guarantee his help by carrying the symbol of his... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 4:1

Came . Compare Acts 3:24 .Hebrews 11:32 . Eben-ezer = Stone of help. So called in anticipation of Samuel's victory twenty years later (1 Samuel 7:12 ). Aphek = Fortress. Joshua 15:53 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:1

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WAS CAPTURED BY THE PHILISTINES"And the word of Samuel came to all Israel" (1 Samuel 4:1a). This statement actually belongs to the preceding chapter where it appears in a number of ancient versions.[1] We believe that C. F. Keil was mistaken in his interpretation that these words were a summons by Samuel for all Israel to go to war against the Philistines. God's true prophet would not have led Israel into such a disastrous defeat.THE PRELIMINARY BATTLE AT APHEK AND... read more

Group of Brands