1 Samuel 4:3-12

3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,

7 the Philistines were afraid. “A god has^[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.

8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.

11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Death of Eli

12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.

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1 Samuel 4:3-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 4

This chapter is a narrative of a war between Israel and the Philistines, in the time of Samuel, and of the consequences of it. In the first battle, the Philistines had the better of the Israelites, which caused the latter to inquire into the reason of it, and who proposed to fetch the ark of the Lord, and did, to repair their loss, and prepare for a second battle, in which they hoped to succeed, and which struck a panic into their enemies, 1Sa 4:1-7, who yet encouraged and stirred up one another to behave in a courageous manner, and victory a second time was on their side, a great number of the Israelites were slain, among whom were Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, and the ark of God was taken, 1Sa 4:8-11, the news of which being brought to Eli, he fell back and died, 1Sa 4:12-18 and to his daughter-in-law, who upon it fell into labour, and died also, 1Sa 4:19-22.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 15

1. Joshua 7:7
2. Numbers 10:35; S Joshua 6:7
3. S Joshua 18:1; S 1 Samuel 2:32
4. 2 Chronicles 13:8
5. S Genesis 3:24; S Exodus 25:22; 2 Samuel 6:2
6. S Joshua 6:5,10
7. S Genesis 14:13
8. S Exodus 15:14
9. Exodus 12:30; 1 Samuel 5:12
10. Revelation 11:6
11. S Judges 13:1; 1 Corinthians 16:13
12. ver 2; S Deuteronomy 28:25; 2 Samuel 18:17; 2 Kings 14:12
13. Psalms 78:64; Jeremiah 7:12; 1 Samuel 2:34; Psalms 78:61,64
14. Ezekiel 24:26; Ezekiel 33:21
15. S Joshua 7:6; S 2 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 15:32; Nehemiah 9:1; Job 2:12

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or "“Gods have" (see Septuagint)