1 Samuel 4:6-9 NIV

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 4:6

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout ,.... For it being so loud as to make the earth ring, it was heard in the camp of the Philistines, which might not be at any great distance from the camp of Israel; how far from each other were Aphek and Ebenezer is not certain: they said, what meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews ? they could not conceive what should be the reason of it, seeing they had no occasion to shout for joy, having been lately... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:7

And the Philistines were afraid ,.... When the spies returned, and reported to them the reason of the shouting: for they said, God is come into the camp ; into the camp of Israel, because the ark represented him, and was the symbol of his presence; and these Heathens might take the ark itself for an idol of the Israelites; the Targum is,"the ark of God is come" and they said, woe unto us ; it is all over with us, destruction and ruin will be our case, victory will go on their side... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:8

Woe unto us, who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods ?.... Of whom they spoke in an ironical and sneering manner; or if seriously and through fear, they use their own Heathenish language, as if the Israelites had many gods, as they had, though mightier than theirs; though the Syriac and Arabic versions read in the singular, out of the hand of God, or the most strong God; and so the Targum, out of the hand of the Word of the Lord: these are the gods that smote the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:9

Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines ,.... Since this was all they had to depend upon, their manly courage; if they did not exert that it was all over with them; and seeing their case was desperate, having gods as well as men to fight with, it became them to exert themselves to the uttermost; which did they, there was a possibility still of gaining victory, and so immortal honour to themselves; these words seem to be spoken by the generals and officers of the army of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:8

These mighty Gods - האדרים האלהים מיד 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? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:9

Be strong , etc. - 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 have exercised towards them." 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:6

But they, sure of its talismanic influence, shout for joy as they see its approach, and the Philistines ask the meaning of the great shout in the camp of the Hebrews. This name is constantly given to the Israelites by those not belonging to them, and probably has a certain amount of animosity in it, as showing that they were foreigners; literally, passers over, people who in the person of Abraham had come from the other side of the Euphrates, and having began as feeble immigrants, had... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:6

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