1 Samuel 4:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:19-22

We have here another melancholy story, that carries on the desolations of Eli's house, and the sorrowful feeling which the tidings of the ark's captivity excited. It is concerning the wife of Phinehas, one of those ungracious sons of Eli that had brought all this mischief on Israel. It cost her her life, though young, as well as that of her father-in-law, that was old; for many a green head, as well as many a hoary head, has been brought by sorrow to the grave: it worketh death. By what is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:19

And his daughter in law, Phinehas's wife, was with child, near to be delivered ,.... Was near her time, as it is commonly expressed. Ben Gersom derives the word from a root which signifies to complete and finish F11 כלה "absolvere, consummare, perficere", Buxtorf. ; denoting that her time to bring forth was completed and filled up; though Josephus F12 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3.) sect. 4. says that it was a seven months' birth, so that she came two months before her time;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:19

And his daughter-in-law - This is another very affecting story; the defeat of Israel, the capture of the ark, the death of her father-in-law, and the slaughter of her husband, were more than a woman in her circumstances, near the time of her delivery could bear. She bowed, travailed, was delivered of a son, gave the child a name indicative of the ruined state of Israel, and expired! read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:19-21

His daughter-in-law. The death of Eli's daughter-in-law is equally tragic with his own. The news of the terrible calamity that had befallen the ark of God brought on a premature delivery; but when she had given birth to a son, the attendant women naturally hoped that the good tidings would cheer the mother's heart. They haste, therefore, to tell her; but she answered not, neither did she regard it. This does not mean that she was already dead; if so, the women would not have told her. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:19-22

Ichabod. The facts given are— 1 . The wife of Phinehas, hearing the sad tidings of Israel's disaster and of the death of her husband and of Eli, suffers premature labour. 2 . The loss of the ark of God contributes more to her anguish of spirit than does the sudden death of her nearest relatives. 3 . She deliberately refuses the most natural of all consolations. 4 . When dying she gives a name to her child that shall express her sense of the calamity fallen on Israel. The... 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 4:19

came = came suddenly. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:19

FURTHER JUDGMENT AGAINST ELI'S HOUSE"Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, about to give birth. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Fear not, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or give heed. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, `The glory has... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 4:1-22

A. The Capture of the Ark 4:1-22A new subject comes to the forefront in this section and continues to be a significant motif throughout the rest of Samuel. It is the ark of the covenant. The writer drew attention to the ark in this chapter by mentioning it seven times, including a notation at the end of each text section (1 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 4:11; 1 Samuel 4:17-19; 1 Samuel 4:21-22). Following the reference to Samuel the prophet in 1 Samuel 4:1, the writer did not mention him again until 1... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 4:19-22

3. The response of Phinehas’ wife 4:19-22Likewise the news of the loss of the ark is what distressed Phinehas’ wife more than the news of the deaths of her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law (1 Samuel 4:21-22). "Ichabod" is usually translated, "The glory has departed," but it may mean, "Where is the glory?""With the surrender of the earthly throne of His glory, the Lord appeared to have abolished His covenant of grace with Israel; for the ark, with the tables of the law and the... read more

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