1 Samuel 4:12-5:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:12-18

Tidings are here brought to Shiloh of the fatal issue of their battle with the Philistines. Bad news flies fast. This soon spread through all Israel; every man that fled to his tent brought it, with too plain a proof of it, to his neighbours. But no place was so nearly concerned as Shiloh. Thither therefore an express posted away immediately; it was a man of Benjamin; the Jews fancy it was Saul. He rent his clothes, and put earth upon his head, by these signs to proclaim the sorrowful news to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:12

And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army ,.... Out of the rank in which he was, before the whole army was quite broken up. This was a young man as Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 11. sect. 3. says, which is highly probable; though not at all to be depended on is what the Jews F3 Shalshalet Hakabala. fol. 8. 1. Jarchi in loc. say, that this was Saul, later king of Israel: and came to Shiloh the same day ; which, according to Bunting F4 Travels of the Patriarchs,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 nations. The clothes rent, signified the rending, dividing, and scattering, of the people; the earth, or ashes on the head, signified their humiliation: "We are brought down to the dust of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:12

There ran a man of Benjamin. The whole story is told with so much vividness, and is so full of exact particulars, that it must have come from an eyewitness, probably from Samuel himself. According to Jewish tradition, this Benjamite was no other than Saul, but the chronology is at variance with this supposition. The importance in old time, when even roads did not exist, of men capable of running long distances to carry news in war is evident, and many instances are recorded showing the high... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:12-18

Victory in defeat. The facts given are— 1 . Eli, aware of the absence of the ark on the battle field, awaits with anxiety the earliest tidings of the issue of the conflict. 2 . A fugitive relates to him and to the people of Shiloh the nature of the disaster that had befallen Israel. 3 . The effect of the news on the city is a wailing cry of despair, and on Eli sudden death. By record and tradition the people were familiar with the disasters and sufferings occasionally... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 4:12

Runners who were swift of foot, and could go long distances were important and well-known persons (compare 2 Samuel 18:19-31). There seem to have been always professional runners to act as messengers with armies in the field (2 Kings 11:4, 2 Kings 11:6,2 Kings 11:19, the King James Version “guards”).Earth upon his head - In token of bitter grief. Compare the marginal references. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 4:12

1 Samuel 4:12. With his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head According to the manner of those who bewailed any great calamity, Joshua 7:6; Job 2:12; Ezekiel 27:30. From which last place it appears it was a custom among other nations. 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 4:12

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:12

THE DEATH OF ELI"A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart was troubled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "what is this uproar"? Then the man hastened and came and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and... read more

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