Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. departed in one sense. Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant… it may save us from the hand of our enemies: The elders of Israel, after the battle with the Philistines, decided the next battle could be won if they took the Ark of the Covenant with their soldiers. Trivia . “Thus as God was no loser by this event, so the Philistines were no gainers by it; and Israel, all things considered, received more good than hurt by it, as we shall see.” (Poole), ©2018 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission. Instead, God was just, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Hannah gives Samuel to Israel’s chief priest, Eli, to be raised as a Nazirite. a. Israel went out to battle against the Philistines: During this time there was no great world power (such as Egypt or Assyria) seeking to dominate the region. Summary After losing to the Philistines, the Israelites bring the ark with them into battle. At that moment, did God wring His hands in heaven, worried about how things would turn out? Woe to us! All the noise and excitement meant nothing because it wasn’t grounded in God’s truth. the cherubim. The anguish was too great, and labor pains came upon her. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in … Samuel 1-3 Bible MCQ Quiz: Trivia! God is a Person, not a genie to be summoned at the will of man. Looking at it this way, the glory had not departed at all. But they should have been confident, knowing God was well able to take care of Himself. Israel’s next judge, Samuel, is born to Hannah, a previously barren woman. I Bless His Name; It Is God Who Holds the Nations; Hymns for 1 Samuel 8 Hymns for 1 Samuel 9. Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells. The very “thing” they thought would win the battle was captured. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard, . The Philistines Capture the Ark. Now the proof of judgment came. If they believed the God of Israel was greater than their gods, they should have submitted to Him. Pregnant, she heard of the death of her husband, her brother-in-law, her father-in-law, a slaughter among the soldiers of Israel, a lost battle, and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant all on one day. i. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. God forbid that we should judge any man’s worship! : Instead of trusting in the ark, they should be more concerned that the ark was served and carried by priests who had forsaken the LORD. ). i. In addition, the Philistines had a competent general who ordered them to calm down and fight like men. Their shouting proved both their vanity and irreligion.” (Clarke), : “Now, beloved, when you are worshipping God, shout if you are filled with holy gladness. The Book Of First Samuel Quiz! 1, 2. 1. But do not be so foolish as to suppose that because there is loud noise there must also be faith. i. b. The messenger had a long way to go, the route was mostly uphill, and he carried very bad news. They believed the presence of the ark would make God work for them. Woe to us! Finally, God did not bless Israel’s superstitious belief in the power of the ark instead of the power of God. Israel’s next judge, Samuel, is born to Hannah, a previously barren woman. The Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 4. Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. Chapter Overview: Israel smitten by the Philistines, ver. They bring the ark into the camp, which affrights the Philistines, ver. Moses told the priests to lead the ark into battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:6). ii. They are routed and the Philistines capture the ark. Then the man said to Eli, “I. More Samuel Quizzes. Every chapter of the Bible in 140 characters or less. i. “Instead of attempting to get right with God, these Israelites set about devising superstitious means of securing the victory over their foes. The Israelites camped in the place call Ebenezer. i. Godless Philistines can teach us something. : There were three reasons for this great defeat. Secondly, God allowed it as a correction to the nation, so they would not trust in the ark of God, instead of trusting in the God of the ark. Part 4 - 1 Samuel chapter 4 - Philistia’s army defeats Israel’s army and takes away the sacred object called the ark. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. i. True faith in God may express itself with leaping and with shouting; and it is a happy thing when it does: but it can also sit still before the Lord, and that perhaps is a happier thing still.” (Spurgeon), Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. The Israelites overcome by the Philistines. i. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”. Faith is a still water, it flows deep. The Philistines were the first people in Canaan to process iron and they made the most of it. Hannah gives Samuel to Israel’s chief priest, Eli, to be raised as a Nazirite. It was hearing the Ark of the Covenant of God was captured. in omitting the word ‘there.’ The narrative requires the statement that Hophni and Phinehas accompanied the Ark, not merely that they were at Shiloh, which we know already. 12 - 18. This was a difficult period for Israel. “And he died”: As was the case with Hophni and Phinehas, Eli died. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Sitemap. Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; God Is My Strength! Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. 10, 11. i. We think if God is on our side, the work will be easy. Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. i. Only the high priest entered and saw the ark, and only once a year. 4. (1:3) Shiloh 5) Who would Elkanah give a double portion to? A different location from the one mentioned (in 4:1 and 5:1). The Ark in Kiriath-jearim (1) Samuel urges: ‘Serve only Jehovah’ (2-6) Israel’s victory at Mizpah (7-14) Samuel judges Israel (15-17) 8. 7:4-16). “There are plenty of Christians, like these elders, who, when they find themselves beaten by the world and the devil, puzzle their brains to invent all sorts of reasons for God’s smiting, except the true one, – their own departure from Him.” (Maclaren). If they really believed their gods were greater than the God of Israel, they should not have been worried. The decay in the house of Eli is so much graver as the priesthood is concerned also … 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. rang again] Cp. God promised the two sons of Eli would die on the same day as proof of His ultimate judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). Israel demands a king: Saul (1 Sa 8–15). Nevertheless, the battle ended in disaster: Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men. He told them to put the tablets of the law, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, in the ark. The earth shook: “Now, beloved, when you are worshipping God, shout if you are filled with holy gladness. c. The ark of God was captured: This was worse than just losing a battle. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. These, the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. First, He allowed it as a righteous judgment upon Israel as a nation and the family of Eli. c. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines: The presence of the ark did not make the Philistines feel like giving up. The priesthood in Israel is in a general state of decline, and Eli’s sons are disobeying God’s laws. We should compliment the Philistines for understanding that the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God, and on their knowledge of Israel’s history. But they were wrong in the way they sought help. Kept in the most holy place of the tabernacle, the people never saw it. Looking at it this way, the glory had not departed at all. (1-9) The ark taken. The Ark is captured. Some is only seen in its fullness after it is fulfilled. : The presence of the ark did not make the Philistines feel like giving up. The word of the Samuel came to all Israel… now Israel went out to battle: This doesn’t mean the battle was initiated by Samuel. The Philistine people beg their leaders to return the ark to the Israelites. 3. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave … “Never did time seem more hopeless than when Samuel arose. (10,11) The death of Eli. The people of Israel selfishly chose Saul to rule over them as king (1 Sam. c. Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died: Eli fell over and died at the news of the ark (when he made mention of the ark of God). To reflect her anguish and the national tragedy upon Israel she named the child Ichabod, meaning, “The glory has departed from Israel.”. 1. b. Samuel 1-3 Bible MCQ Quiz: Trivia! The Philistines, strengthened not merely by a constant influx of immigrants, but by the importation of arms from Greece, were fast reducing Israel to the condition of a subject race.” (Smith, The word of the Samuel came to all Israel… now Israel went out to battle. 1 Samuel 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. First, the Philistines fought with the courage of desperate men. : Her grief was so great, it overcame her maternal joy at the birth of her son. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. A really lame battle plan (I Samuel 4:1-11) 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. b. (5) Israel’s confidence in the Ark of the Covenant. Some is only seen in its fullness after it is fulfilled. You can check these in your browser security settings. “The glory of God had indeed departed, but not because the ark of God had been captured; the ark had been captured because the glory had already departed.” (Ellison), ii. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. They looked to the ark to save them, not to the LORD. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Under Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 1 Samuel 4:17-18) and also under the two sons of Samuel (1 Samuel 8:1-2) the office of the judge crumbles into pieces. (12-18) The birth of Ichabod. i. Courage and persistence win many battles, even sometimes for the wrong side. 3 - 9. All Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook: Someone passing by Israel’s camp would think something tremendous was happening. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines. Read chapter 4, then discuss these questions: (1) What are the right attitudes for a person who prays for God’s help? We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 4. God raises up David to be king of Israel (1 Sa 16–20). i. Later, Saul brought the ark into battle (1 Samuel 14:18), as did David (2 Samuel 11:11). give up. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. With the ark more than seven times as many men of Israel were killed. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. (1-9) The ark taken. The Israelites overcome by the Philistines. So, Israel’s battles were waged against her near neighbors, such as the Moabites, the Ammonites, or as here, the Philistines. Traditionally, Samuel played some role in writing the narrative we find in 1 Samuel. was the representation of the throne of God in Israel. It wasn’t the news of Israel’s loss in battle, or the slaughter of the army, or even the news of the death of his own sons that killed him. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. The messenger brought bad news, and he let his appearance reflect how bad the news was. Saul hunts David out of jealousy (1 Sa 21–31). (1 Samuel 4:1), and it was at least 20 miles from Aphek to Shiloh. Finally, though it seemed so terrible to man, was it all that terrible to God? And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. (10,11) The death of Eli. there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. (10,11) The death of Eli. He wouldn’t allow His arm to be twisted by the superstitions of the Israelites. They knew it was unusual – even unheard of – for the Israelites to bring the ark into battle (, For such a thing has never happened before, ), and they knew the God of Israel defeated the Egyptians (, who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues. The priesthood in Israel is in a general state of decline, and Eli’s sons are disobeying God’s laws. We may request cookies to be set on your device. If He was not willing to do it for their sake, He would have to do it for His honour’s sake.” (Ellison). . Knowledge wasn’t their problem. To her, the loss was total, and she even lost the desire to live. For such a thing has never happened before. 1. the word of Samuel came to all Israel --The character of Samuel as a prophet was now fully established. 1 Samuel 4 The Philistines and the Israelites have a war. , but the God of the ark was still on the throne in heaven and guiding these circumstances for His glory. announce that Eli would also die the same day. (12-18) The birth of Ichabod. Eli and his daughter-in-law die when they hear the disturbing news. And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”, : Poor wife of Phinehas! : This was worse than just losing a battle. a. i. ii. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why. (1:5) Hannah Israel made an idol of the ark and God often deals with our idolatry by taking the idol away. If the shout comes from your heart, I would not ask you to restrain it. We think of a thousand inventions; but we neglect the one thing needful… They forget the main matter, which is to enthrone God in the life, and to seek to do His will by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Spurgeon), ii. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. Trivia The Book Of First Samuel Quiz! 1 Samuel 4 – “The Ark is Captured” David Z. Moster 08A - 1 Samuel January 2, 2010 January 2, 2010. 1 Samuel Summary One King to Rule them All? iii. In the late 1970’s, a five-line inscription was found on a grain silo in the ruins of Izbet Sarteh. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. It was hearing the Ark of the Covenant of God was captured. (3-4) The elders of Israel respond with a superstitious trust in the ark. But they were wrong in the way they sought help. The king they appoint will take their daughters to work his palace as cooks, bakers, and confectionaries, and he will slightly oppress the people. i. Israel competed on more equal terms with Moab and Ammon but the Philistines had Greek military equipment (such as helmets, shields, chain mail armor, swords and spears) making the Philistines more formidable opponents. iii. 3 - 9. Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, : Eli fell over and died at the news of the ark (. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. God promised that Eli’s two sons would die on the same day as a sign of judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). Cp. True faith in God may express itself with leaping and with shouting; and it is a happy thing when it does: but it can also sit still before the Lord, and that perhaps is a happier thing still.” (Spurgeon). The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. More books related to 1 Samuel. So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. The book covers a period of 115 years from the birth of Samuel through the turbulent times of Saul to the beginning of David, the king who God chose. It wasn’t the news of Israel’s loss in battle, or the slaughter of the army, or even the news of the death of his own sons that killed him. We often make the same mistake, believing that if God is with us, we don’t need to try so hard. God showed He was greater than the ark. Yet, they did not submit to God, but simply determined to fight against Him all the more. Certainly, this would be considered a great church service, and many would think Israel really trusted God. a. All Rights Reserved. God showed He was greater than the ark. No doubt, it seemed like a brilliant suggestion. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. They hoped it would give confidence that God was really with them. According to an unfounded Jewish tradition, this unnamed messenger from the tribe of Benjamin was a young man named Saul. b. And when the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Samuel was a priest because he came from the *tribe of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). Why was he so nervous? They only cared if it, i. iii. The ark went into battle before. (19-22) Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:1-9 (Read 1 Samuel 4:1-9) Israel is smitten before the Philistines. 10, 11. God promised the two sons of Eli would die on the same day as proof of His ultimate judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). Worried about the Philistines and their gods? The news brought to Shiloh and the death of Eli, ver. Brief Summary: The book of 1 Samuel can be neatly divided into two sections: the life of Samuel (chapters 1-12) and the life of Saul (chapters 13-31). i. 16:1-13), who, although he also falls (2 Sam. And Jonathan spake good of David.] All the noise and excitement meant nothing because it wasn’t grounded in God’s truth. God forbid that we should judge any man’s worship! First, He allowed it as a righteous judgment upon Israel as a nation and the family of Eli. But since his death is recorded in chapter 25, it’s unlikely that he wrote both books that bear his name. But the glory left when Israel stopped repenting and trusting God and started superstitiously trusting in the ark itself. They bring the ark into the camp, which affrights the Philistines, ver. The Philistines came to fight with the Israelites. That may not be true at all. 1 Samuel Chapter 4 Summary. iv. And when the man came into the city and told, , all the city cried out. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 2. (19-22) Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:1-9 (Read 1 Samuel 4:1-9) Israel is smitten before the Philistines. God did. Nevertheless, the battle ended in disaster: Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men. According to other passages, after the Philistines defeated the Israeli army they went on to destroy the city of Shiloh itself (Psalm 78:60-64, Jeremiah 7:12 and 26:9). : Even though they did not understand much about God, the Philistines recognized the superiority of the God of Israel. Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus; We are living, we are dwelling; Here Am I, Send Me; Hymns for 1 Samuel 5 Hymns for 1 Samuel 6 Hymns for 1 Samuel 7. Some manuscript traditions (evident in the Septuagint) make it clear the Philistines started this conflict. : The priests who were supposed to supervise the ark were killed in the battle. Book Summary: This book begins the 500 year period of the Kings of Israel – approximately between 1050 and 586BC. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 5. (19-22)1-9 Israel is smitten before the Philistines. Israel demands a king (1-9) Samuel warns the people (10-18) Jehovah grants the request for a king (19-22) 9. How could God allow something so terrible to happen? 1, 2. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 4. 2. The elders wanted to take this representation of the throne of God out of the holy of holies (it could be moved when the tabernacle was to be moved), cover it, and bring it into battle with them. “The glory of God had indeed departed, but not because the ark of God had been captured; the ark had been captured because the glory had already departed.” (Ellison). Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 1 Samuel 4 The Philistines and the Israelites have a war. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. If He was not willing to do it for their sake, He would have to do it for His honour’s sake.” (Ellison). They are routed and the Philistines capture the ark. Instead of giving up when things look bad we should trust the LORD and fight all the harder and decide we will not give up. They looked to the ark to save them, not to the LORD. 4. If they really believed their gods were greater than the God of Israel, they should not have been worried. (10,11) The death of Eli. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. All of the people in Israel heard about Samuel. 1 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Eli was rightly more concerned about the fate of the ark than the fate of his sons. Summary 1 Samuel 5: The Philistines, who have the ark in their possession, are afflicted with hemorrhoids. The … Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? (12-18) The birth of Ichabod. i. The messenger brought bad news, and he let his appearance reflect how bad the news was. God raises up Samuel as prophet and judge (1 Sa 1–7). Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. Summary 1 Samuel 4: After losing to the Philistines, the Israelites bring the ark with them into battle. Certainly, this would be considered a great church service, and many would think Israel really trusted God. Eli and his daughter-in-law die when they hear the disturbing news. Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, : During this time there was no great world power (such as Egypt or Assyria) seeking to dominate the region. : Eli anxiously waited back at the tabernacle for news of the battle. It may save us: The elders rightly sensed they needed God’s help to win the battle. 1 Samuel 19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. Though to the hazard of his own life, as 1 Samuel 20:32; 1 Samuel 20:37. So, Israel’s battles were waged against her near neighbors, such as the Moabites, the Ammonites, or as here, the. With the ark more than seven times as many men of Israel were killed. : The elders rightly sensed they needed God’s help to win the battle. a. God has come into the camp! ii. To reflect her anguish and the national tragedy upon Israel she named the child, But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. Israel was right to be sad at the loss of life and the ark on that day. Israel made an idol of the ark and God often deals with our idolatry by taking the idol away. When deciphered, it was found to contain a Philistine account of this battle, the capture of the ark, even specifically mentioning the priest Hophni. God raises up two kings, one proud and the other humble. Israel thought they could ignore the God of the ark and find deliverance in the ark of God. (6-9) The Philistines’ fear of the Ark of the Covenant. 3 f Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. Finally, though it seemed so terrible to man, was it all that terrible to God? Eli was rightly more concerned about the fate of the ark than the fate of his sons. (1:2) Two 2) Which of Elkanah's wives had no children? Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. There was nothing wrong with the ark itself. Samuel was also a *prophet because God spoke to him (chapter 3; 4:1). John Trapp Complete Commentary. Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. According to an unfounded Jewish tradition, this unnamed messenger from the tribe of, Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. Pregnant, she heard of the death of her husband, her brother-in-law, her father-in-law, a slaughter among the soldiers of Israel, a lost battle, and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant all on one day. All Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook, : Someone passing by Israel’s camp would think something tremendous was happening. ii. The loss which prompted them to take the ark resulted in the death of. These were some of the traditional signs of mourning. Then she named the child Ichabod: For a Jewish woman, the birth of a son was wonderful news – but not for the wife of Phinehas on this day. ii. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, ( A) and the Philistines at Aphek. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. Yet, even a good thing like the ark can be made an idol, and God won’t tolerate our idols. Instead, it made them feel they had to fight all the harder to overcome the odds. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. In verse 6, ‘ruled’ also means ‘judged’ (see notes on 4:18). Eli knew he let the ark go on an unwise, superstitious errand, and his conscience made him fear it would end in disaster. The story of Samuel begins with, funnily enough, the birth of Samuel. Commentary for 1 Samuel 4 . It kind of shook or rattled the Philistines as it reminded them of what God did to the Egyptians. Carole 25 Aug 2016, 15:46. The Israelites probably felt they were better than the Philistines because the Philistines were pagans, worshipping false gods. And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”. with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Worried about the Philistines and their gods? And I fled today from the battle line.” And he said, “What happened, my son?” So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. : This doesn’t mean the battle was initiated by Samuel. Their shouting proved both their vanity and irreligion.” (Clarke), b. 1 Samuel Overview Samuel didn’t write the whole book. The glory of God had departed in one sense. Commentary for 1 Samuel 4 . God tells us much in prophecy, but not everything. 1 Samuel 4 (King James Version) 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. And he had judged Israel forty years." Instead of humbly repenting and seeking God, they turned to methods that God never approved. Instead, it made them feel they had to fight all the harder to overcome the odds. And he had judged Israel forty years. 1 Samuel 4:1-11. The messenger had a long way to go, the route was mostly uphill, and he carried very bad news. 1 Samuel 4. The Ark of the Covenant was the representation of the throne of God in Israel. So, Samuel led the people as the judges did in the book of Judges. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. This is the earliest known extra-biblical reference to an Old Testament event. At that moment, did God wring His hands in heaven, worried about how things would turn out? Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the Ark of the Covenant of God. c. The glory has departed: The glory of God, displayed by the Ark of the Covenant, had departed from Israel. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Now the proof of judgment came. A study of the book of 1 Samuel 4: 1 – 22 1 Samuel 4: 1 – 22 I’m Outta Here 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. If the shout comes from your heart, I would not ask you to restrain it. A summary of 1 Samuel 4 from @biblesummary. (12-18) Eli hears of the loss of the Ark of the Covenant of God and dies. And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? These were some of the traditional signs of mourning. Instead, God was just beginning to show His glory. Test your knowledge of the bible passage: 1 Samuel 4-8. He wouldn’t allow His arm to be twisted by the superstitions of the Israelites. When she heard the news: Poor wife of Phinehas! Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. (1-9) The ark taken. God commanded them to make it. (12-18) The birth of Ichabod. When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What, ?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. The Lord Calls Samuel. The Israelite army went out to fight back. The Philistines now held it. God is a Person, not a genie to be summoned at the will of man. feel obligated to bless the Israelites just because they took the ark into battle. I summarised the Bible on Twitter between Aug 2010 and Nov 2013 - one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. b. Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God: Eli anxiously waited back at the tabernacle for news of the battle. The Israelites recognized that their victory really came from God. They were organized into five city-states. Summary . Instead of giving up when things look bad we should trust the LORD and fight all the harder and decide we will. Secondly, God allowed it as a correction to the nation, so they would not trust in the ark of God, instead of trusting in the God of the ark. c. That it may save us from the hand of our enemies: They regarded the ark as the ultimate “good luck charm” and believed they could not lose with it there. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. g And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.. 2 At that time Eli, h whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The Israelites overcome by the Philistines. The Chronicler believes that Samuel recorded at least some of … The anguish was too great, and, : For a Jewish woman, the birth of a son was wonderful news – but not for the wife of Phinehas on this day. Summary After losing to the Philistines, the Israelites bring the ark with them into battle. They simply received what they deserved. ( B) 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. The decay in the house of Eli is so much graver as the priesthood is concerned also which ought to be the medium between God and the people. After being raised by the priest Eli in temple, Samuel becomes God's number one prophet. iii. They are routed and the Philistines capture the ark. But for all the appearances, it was really nothing. As it turned out, God did not feel obligated to bless the Israelites just because they took the ark into battle. The Philistines, strengthened not merely by a constant influx of immigrants, but by the importation of arms from Greece, were fast reducing Israel to the condition of a subject race.” (Smith, Pulpit Commentary). And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Second, the Israelites felt the battle would be easy with the ark of the Covenant there and did not try as hard. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. devoutly and fervently for success, they would have been heard and saved. The first part is a contrasting character study of Saul and David, showing the importance of humility in God’s people. Finally, God did not bless Israel’s superstitious belief in the power of the ark instead of the power of God. The Philistines Capture the Ark. Study 1 Samuel 4 using John Darby’s Synopsis to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning. A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh: The battle was fought near Aphek (1 Samuel 4:1), and it was at least 20 miles from Aphek to Shiloh. We can make good things idols. The word— That is, the word of the Lord revealed to Samuel, and by him to the people. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. God tells us much in prophecy, but not everything. Samuel meets with Saul (1-27) 10. There fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers: Not only did Israel lose, they lost far worse than they did before taking the ark into battle. 1 Samuel 1-4 New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Samuel 1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite [ a ] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. Verses: Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What, the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews, ?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. • In chapters 1-7, Samuel is born to Hannah as a Nazirite, dedicate to God. The Philistines were camping in the place called Aphek. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Israel thought they could ignore the God of the ark and find deliverance in the ark of God. Faith is a still water, it flows deep. In this respect most of us have imitated them. b. They had the courage of desperate men. Under Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 1 Samuel 4:17-18) and also under the two sons of Samuel (1 Samuel 8:1-2) the office of the judge crumbles into pieces. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. “Never did time seem more hopeless than when Samuel arose. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. i. Godless Philistines can teach us something. These mighty gods: Even though they did not understand much about God, the Philistines recognized the superiority of the God of Israel. Israel beaten and the ark taken, ver. But she did not answer, nor did she regard it: Her grief was so great, it overcame her maternal joy at the birth of her son. Israel smitten by the Philistines, ver. God did not announce that Eli would also die the same day. ISRAEL OVERCOME BY THE PHILISTINES. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Second, the Israelites felt the battle would be easy with the ark of the Covenant there and did not try as hard. Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant… it may save us from the hand of our enemies, : The elders of Israel, after the battle with the Philistines, decided the next battle could be won if they took the. All of the people in Israel heard about Samuel. First, the Philistines fought with the courage of desperate men. This was a difficult period for Israel. And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? They had the courage of desperate men. “No sword of a Philistine could have slain him any more powerfully; neither can you say whether his neck or his heart were broken first.” (Trapp). . Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched … Christians need to show more of this courage. There fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers, : Not only did Israel lose, they lost far worse than they did, taking the ark into battle. The Philistines came to fight with the Israelites. Soon after, Samuel was brought to the tabernacle to serve God. They knew it was unusual – even unheard of – for the Israelites to bring the ark into battle (For such a thing has never happened before), and they knew the God of Israel defeated the Egyptians (who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues). But the glory left when Israel stopped repenting and trusting God and started superstitiously trusting in the ark itself. How could God allow something so terrible to happen? 1 Samuel Study Guide Chapter 1 1) How many wives did Elkanah have? V 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. ii. Only the high priest entered and saw the ark, and only once a year. When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the sound of this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. 1 Samuel 4 – Capture of the Ark of the Covenant A. (1:3) Yearly 4) Where were the sons of Eli serving as priests? Your email address will not be published. 8-9); but he proves to be a foolish choice in light David, the king chosen by God (1Sam. 1 Samuel Chapter 8 Summary. Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. 1 Samuel 4 - NIV: And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. As a child, Samuel lived and served in the temple. Eli and … Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. ii. But do not be so foolish as to suppose that because there is loud noise there must also be faith. “Their idea was that God should be, to fight for them. “Had they humbled themselves, and prayed devoutly and fervently for success, they would have been heard and saved. Up until this point in biblical history, the Israelites have not had a king. You can also change some of your preferences. Yet the Israelites thought and acted just like pagans, thinking they could manipulate God and force Him into doing what they wanted Him to do. The elders wanted to take this representation of the throne of God out of the holy of holies (it could be moved when the tabernacle was to be moved), cover it, and bring it into battle with them. Quick outline of 1 Samuel. Went out— To meet the Philistines, who having by this time recruited themselves after their loss by Samson, and perceiving an eminent prophet arising among them, by whom they were likely to be united, and assisted… Yet we often resist God as well, instead of submitting to Him. They simply received what they deserved. Israel beaten and the ark taken, ver. Summary . Because the news was so bad he came with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. d. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died: The priests who were supposed to supervise the ark were killed in the battle. The king will take their land and give to his own servants, this is what the kings of other nations do. A word of command, that all Israel should go forth to fight with the Philistines, as the following words explain it, that they might he first humbled and punished for their sins, and so prepared for deliverance. i. I. : They regarded the ark as the ultimate “good luck charm” and believed they could not lose with it there. a. Worried about His reputation? (1-9) The ark taken. The travail and death of his daughter - in - law, 19 - 22. The ark of God was captured, but the God of the ark was still on the throne in heaven and guiding these circumstances for His glory. 1 Kings 1… They were probably pleased to arrive at such a great solution. Christians need to show more of this courage. It was important to Israel. The very “thing” they thought would win the battle was captured. (10-11) The ark goes into battle and Israel is defeated worse than before. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. And he had judged Israel forty years. (1-2) Israel is defeated before the Philistines. Instead of humbly repenting and seeking God, they turned to methods that God never approved. They hoped it would give confidence that God was really with them. A summary of 1 Samuel 2 from @biblesummary. Submission to God was. Kept in the most holy place of the tabernacle, the people never saw it. But for all the appearances, it was really. Click on the different category headings to find out more. We, like them, often know God is greater and deserves our submission. The Philistines were an immigrant people from the military aristocracy of the island of Crete (Amos 9:7). 1. (1-2) Israel is defeated before the Philistines. (19-22) More tragedy among the family of Eli. 11-20), receives an eternal covenant promise (2 Sam. The Israelites overcome by the Philistines. To her, the loss was total, and she even lost the desire to live. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! If they believed the God of Israel was greater than their gods, they should have submitted to Him. “Their idea was that God should be forced to fight for them. d. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the Ark of the Covenant of God: Instead of trusting in the ark, they should be more concerned that the ark was served and carried by priests who had forsaken the LORD. The book starts with the miraculous birth of Samuel in answer to his mother’s earnest prayer. It worked. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. They believed the presence of the ark would make God work for them. The Philistines now held it. (1:2) Hannah 3) How often did Elkanah go to worship and sacrifice to the Lord? Many circumstances that we regard as a calamity, God uses in a marvelous way to glorify Himself. ii. During this time, the Israelites are in a vicious battle with the Philistines and they lose the Ark of the Covenant, which is captured by the Philistines. This day he also became the leader of the *Israelites. Ver. Courage and persistence win many battles, even sometimes for the wrong side. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. ii. (19-22)1-9 Israel is smitten before the Philistines. 1 Samuel 4:18 "And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. Hymns for 1 Samuel 4. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. 1st & 2nd Samuel, Kings And Chronicles 1st & 2nd Samuel, Kings And Chronicles . a. Israel was defeated: There were three reasons for this great defeat. Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? he who came from the battle. of Israel (1 Samuel 4:2). Yet, they did not submit to God, but simply determined to fight against Him all the more. i. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Some manuscript traditions (evident in the Septuagint) make it clear the Philistines started this conflict. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. a. Worried about His reputation? Small numbers of Philistines were in the land at the time of Abraham, but they came in larger numbers soon after Israel came to Canaan from Egypt. The book of 1 Samuel is an exciting book split into two parts due to its large size. They only cared if it worked. : The glory of God, displayed by the Ark of the Covenant, had departed from Israel. And I fled today from the battle line.” And he said, “What happened, my son?” So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. The loss which prompted them to take the ark resulted in the death of about four thousandmen of Israel (1 Samuel 4:2). ii. ii. 2 Samuel … Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! Hebrew-English Text I. We should compliment the Philistines for understanding that the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God, and on their knowledge of Israel’s history. The ark went in front of the marchers around the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:6-8). God promised that Eli’s two sons would die on the same day as a sign of judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). note on 1 Samuel 4:21. the two sons of Eli … were there with the ark] It seems best to follow the Sept. and Vulg. For such a thing has never happened before. These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Lucky for the Philistines, God was against Israel in this cause.