1 Samuel 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 4
NJB (MT versing) Philistines Take the Ark in Victory The Ark Is Captured Beginning of the War with the Philistines (4:1b-7:2) The Capture of the Covenant Box Defeat of the Israelites and Capture of the Ark The Defeat of Israel and Capture of the Ark 4:1-4 4:1-4 4:1b-4 4:1-4 4:1-11 The Loss of the Ark 4:5-9 4:5-9 4:5-9 4:5-9 4:10-11 4:10-11 4:10-11 4:10-11 Death of Eli The Death of Eli The Death of Eli Death of Eli 4:12-18 4:12-18 4:12-18 4:12-16b 4:12-18 4:16c 4:17 4:18 Icabod The Birth of Icabod The Death of the Widow of Phinehas Death of the Wife of Phinehas 4:19-22 4:19-22 4:19-22 4:19-22 4:19-22 Etc.
1 Samuel 4:1-4
4:1 "the word of Samuel" This was really the word of YHWH (cf. 1 Sam. 3:19-21). ▣ "came to all Israel" This relates to 1 Sam. 3:20 (i.e., "Dan to Beersheba"). ▣ "the Philistines" The Philistines were apparently Greeks from the Aegean Islands. They were the only group of people in this part of the world who were uncircumcised. They were apparently a mercenary force who tried to attack Egypt in the twelfth century b.c. but were defeated. They then settled on the southern coast of Palestine. They had five major cities which are delineated in Josh. 13:3 Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. They were a major military problem throughout the period of the judges and even throughout the reign of Saul and David. The name "Palestine" comes from the word "Philistine." See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1048-1052. ▣ "Ebenezer. . .Aphek" See map # 83, p. 68 in The MacMillan Bible Atlas. This location was at the northern limit of the Philistine territory, near an important pathway from the hill country to the sea coast plain. 4:2 "four thousand men" This is obviously a round number. "Thousand" can refer to a military unit but with the addition of "men," it is just a large round number. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 4:3 "elders" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS ▣ "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines"This event can be viewed in several ways. The sin of Eli's sons caused the judgment of YHWH to fall on all Israel (i.e., Hebrew corporality, cf. Joshua 7). All causality was attributed to YHWH (i.e., no secondary causes); this was a way to assert His sovereignty (cf. 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 45:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). YHWH was revealing His characteristics to both Israel and Philistia. ▣ "the ark of the covenant of the Lord" The ark symbolized YHWH's personal presence. They thought its presence would assure victory (cf. Num. 10:35-36 and possibly Josh. 3:10-11). Also see note on p. 286 of IVP Bible Background Commentary. SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT 4:4 "the Lord of hosts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS. ▣ "the cherubim" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM. ▣ "the ark of the covenant of God" Notice how "YHWH" (v. 3) and "Elohim" (v. 4) are parallel. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. and D.
1 Samuel 4:5-9
4:5 "so that the earth resounded" This is an obvious hyperbole. However, it was really loud and it scared the Philistines (vv. 6-8). 4:7-8 "God has come into the camp" This is the term Elohim used in v. 4. It is plural. It can mean "in the mouth of these pagans." Israel's covenant God ‒ NASB, NKJV, NJB, JPSOA, Peshitta (the verb is singular which usually means Elohim refers to YHWH) a god ‒ TEV, REB, RSV gods (v. 8) ‒ NRSV, NET the gods ‒ LXX Verse 8 clarifies that it was the Hebrew God who delivered them from Egyptian bondage, who has now entered the camp of the Israelites!
1 Samuel 4:10-11
4:10 "thirty-thousand foot soldiers" The number "thousand" had seven connotations (i.e., Jdgs. 20:2). SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph)
1 Samuel 4:12-18
4:12 "a man of Benjamin ran" The ANE used trained long-distance runners to carry messages (i.e., 2 Sam. 18:19). ▣ "clothes torn and dust on his head" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. 4:13 "Eli was sitting on his seat" Verse 18 implies to me that the seat was on top of a wall overlooking the tabernacle enclosure. But this is just speculation on my part, although Josephus (Antiq. 5.11.3) calls it "a high throne at one of the gates." 4:15 "ninety-eight years old" This is a very specific number. It is obviously an eye-witness or recorded detail. 4:18 "he judged" The term "judge" comes from the Hebrew VERB shophetim (BDB 1047, KB 1622, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE), which meant "to settle a dispute." This Hebrew term is similar to (R. K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 680): the Canaanite term for "leader" or "prince" (cf. Amos 2:3) the Phoenician term for "regent" the Akkadian term for "ruler" the Carthaginean term, "chief magistrate" ▣ "Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (THE NAME). ▣ "forty years" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7.
1 Samuel 4:19-22
4:21 "Ichabod" The name (BDB 33) is defined as "the glory has departed." It refers to the ark being captured by the Philistines (v. 22). The Hebrew אי (BDB 33, which are the first two letters of the name "Ichabod") can mean "where" (Rotherham, או) "alas" (BDB 33 III) "no, not" (BDB IV, "no glory") "disgrace" (Josephus, Antiq. 5.11.4) ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "departed" "left" "gone" "exiled" The MT has the VERB "uncover" (BDB 162, KB 191, Qal PERFECT), which is used often of exile (cf. Jdgs. 18:30; 2 Kgs. 17:23; 24:14; 25:21; often in the prophets). 4:22" The ark symbolized YHWH's personal presence. SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT