1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 1 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. The Ryrie Study Bible Map on Left ESV Global Study Bible, on right Jensen's Survey of the OT The Man Samuel in 1 Samuel 1-8 1 Samuel 4:1 Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. came: 1Sa 3:11 Ebenezer: That is, the place afterwards so called: See the Parallel Texts. 1Sa 5:1 7:12 Aphek: This Aphek was situated in the tribe of Judah, and is probably the same as Aphekah. Jos 15:53 It must be carefully distinguished from that near Jezreel, and another in Asher. 1Sa 29:1 Jos 19:30 1Ki 20:30 Aphek 5 mi from Coast W. of Shiloh Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. - Note that 1Sa 3:21 ends with God's revelation to Samuel of the word of the LORD and in the present passage God's Word is clearly equated with the word of Samuel, who fulfilled his role as God's prophet. The episode that began with a notice of the rarity of the word of the Lord (1Sa 3:1) concludes with a notice of the change brought by the selection of Samuel to be “a prophet of the Lord” Observe that “the word of the Lord” (1Sa 3:21) has become equivalent to “the word of Samuel.” Note that in the context "word" is used 3x in these 4 verses (1Sa 3:19, 21 & here) so that this first sentence seems most logically to flow from the preceding context, especially as the next section begins another scene - thus this is a poor chapter division (in my opinion). This clause is rightly connected with the foregoing verse of the previous chapter in the Syriac and Vulgate. Attached to the fourth chapter, it gives a wrong sense, namely, that Samuel gave the command for the assembling of all Israel for battle with the Philistines. Joined to the previous chapter, it gives the true meaning. Because Samuel spake by the word of Jehovah, therefore his word came to all Israel, that is, it was a binding and authoritative command throughout the whole land. Blaikie - The whole chapter is remarkable for the absence of Samuel’s name. What is thus denoted seems to be that Samuel was not consulted either about the war or about the taking of the ark into the battle. Now - This marks a distinctly new section. We say "now and then," and the "then" was the first part of the passage - Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. - Sadly this truth did not pass over to the "NOW" section! THOUGHT - We see several effects of unconfessed sin in a nation's life and in an individual's life. First, and foremost, God's Spirit withholds the Word of Life (cf Dt 32:46, 47+, Php 2:16+, 1Jn 1:1+) and Truth from that nation or that individual (cf 1Sa 3:1+, cf 1Pe 2:1+ with 1Pe 2:2+). Secondly, God allows (and even ordains) powerful enemies to come against and defeat His people. Third, the defeats God allows are not for His people's destruction, but their correction to bring forth the peaceful fruit of righteousness (disciplining - Heb 12:5-10,11+).The embarrassment of defeat should drive His people back to His Person to confess sins and seek His gifts of repentance, restoration and even revival. Even (especially) when when are experiencing defeat, we must recall to mind that His lovingkindnesses are from everlasting to everlasting to those who love Him! (Exodus 20;6+, cf Lam 3:21, 22-23, 24) As Jesus taught "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (Jn 14:15) Israel went out to meet the Philistines (pelishti) in battle - This was not meet to greet, but meet to defeat (or so Israel thought!) Why did Israel go out to meet them to defeat them? Apparently because the Philistines were encroaching on the land that God had given them. In this scene we see the implicit truth that the Lord is sovereign over all peoples, even the pagans outside the covenant and it was God who stirred up the Philistines to come against His covenant people! (See this truth clearly stated in Jer 25:9).