1 Samuel 4:10-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:10-11

Here is a short account of the issue of this battle. I. Israel was smitten, the army dispersed and totally routed, not retiring into the camp, as before (1 Sam. 4:2) when they hoped to rally again, but returning to their tents, every man shifting for his own safety and making the best of his way home, despairing to make head any more; and 30,000 were slain in the field of battle, 1 Sam. 4:10. Israel was put to the worse, 1. Though they had the better cause, were the people of God and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:10

And the Philistines fought ,.... With great ardour and spirit, quitted themselves like men of valour and courage, their case being desperate as they imagined, since God was in the camp of Israel: and Israel was smitten : were routed and beaten: and they fled every man into his tent ; such of them as escaped the sword of the Philistines fled to their own houses in the several cities from whence they came; so the Targum,"every man to his city'so that their army was quite broken up: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

And the ark of God was taken ,.... By the Philistines; which was suffered partly as a punishment to the Israelites, for fetching it from the tabernacle without the will of God, and for their vain confidence in it; and partly that the Philistines might have an experiment of the power and might of God, as Procopius Gazaeus observes, by what they would suffer through having it among them; some have thought that this was an emblem of Christ being delivered into the hands of the Gentiles, and of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 4:11

Hophni and Phinehas were slain - They probably attempted to defend the ark, and lost their lives in the attempt. 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 4:10

Israel fled every man into —better to— his tent. Their camp stood them this time in no stead. It was stormed by the Philistines, and the whole army fled in confusion. In those days the Israelites dwelt in tents, and to flee "every man to his tent" means that they fled away in every direction, each to his own home. It is in this indiscriminate flight that an army suffers most. As long as men keep together the loss is comparatively slight. But now, thus utterly broken, there fell of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

Moreover, the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain, according to the prediction of the man of God. Probably the last resistance was made round the ark, and the sons of Eli at least died "as men" ( 1 Samuel 2:33 ). THE OVERTHROW OF ELI 'S HOUSE ( 1 Samuel 4:12-22 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

Symbol and spiritual truth. "And the ark of God was taken." The ark was a Divinely appointed symbol or material sign of spiritual truth, and especially of the presence and majesty, the holiness, mercy, and protection, of the invisible King of Israel. It was a part of a system of symbolical worship which was adapted to an early stage of human culture, and formed an important element in a dispensation introductory and preparatory to "the ministration of the Spirit" ( 2 Corinthians 3:8 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:11

The ark misplaced and lost. The elders of Israel were chagrined at the defeat suffered by the national army in its attempt to throw off the yoke of the Philistines. But, instead of seeking the Lord by repentance, they fell on a device to compel him, as they supposed, to give them a victory. Had not the ark been carried round the walls of Jericho, when Israel had no engines of siege to bring against a fortified city; and had not the walls fallen flat to the ground? Why not try its power... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 4:10

1 Samuel 4:10. They fled every man to his tent They were so routed that they did not flee to their camp as before, with an intent to renew the fight, but each man to his habitation, here called by the ancient name of tent. There fell 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 as a refuge to impenitent sinners, but only for the comfort of those that repent. read more

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