1 Samuel 4:22

22 Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”

1 Samuel 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 4:22

And she said
Repeating what she had said before, for the confirmation of it, or as correcting what the women had said; and so may be rendered,

but she said;
giving her own and only reason for the name of the child:

the glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken;
so when the word, worship, and ordinances of God are removed from a people, the glory is gone from them; the God of glory is no more seen among them, who is so glorious in his nature, perfections, and works; and Christ, the Lord of life and glory, is no more held forth unto them in the glories of his person, offices, and grace; and the glorious Gospel of Christ is no more preached unto them, so full of glorious doctrines and promises; and the glorious ordinances of it no more administered: and, when this is the case, the glory is departed from a people; and which is owing to their formality, lukewarmness, unfruitfulness, negligent attendance on the worship of God, contempt of the word and ordinances, and an unbecoming walk and conversation.

1 Samuel 4:22 In-Context

20 She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.

21 She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.

22 Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”