1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4: The Oracles of Yahweh to Samuel are Fulfilled in Battle

1b Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.

3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? 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.” 4 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. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

"During the declining years of Eli, the yoke of the Philistines, which apparently had been shaken off in his manhood, began once again to press heavily upon the neck of Israel." (The Pulpit Commentary) Perhaps "perceiving an eminent prophet arising among them, by whom they were likely to be united, and assisted, thought fit to suppress them in the beginning of their hopes." (John Wesley) The Philistine put themselves in battle array against Israel at Aphek— “‘the fortress.’ ... the old Canaauitish royal city.” (C. H. Ellicott) And Israel joined battle, encamping "beside" Ebenezer— “Stone of Help”— thus named twenty years later in better circumstances (1 Sam. 7:12). But this day they did not seek that Help. They do not ask counsel of the Yahweh’s high priest, nor of Samuel His prophet, nor seek the throne of grace for themselves. “And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.” (2b)

When they lost the first battle, even the elders of Israel proved that they were without understanding: ”Why has Yahweh defeated us today?" "This was strange blindness, that when there was so great a corruption in their worship and manners, they could not see sufficient reason why God should suffer them to fall by their enemies. [They sought a religious remedy: “Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us” etc. ] The ark-- that great pledge of God's presence and help, by whose conduct our ancestors obtained success." (Wesley) "They trust in the ark instead of Jehovah; they expect salvation from the ark of gold and wood: ‘it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.’” (Gaebelein)

“'What was the ark? It was a chest made of wood. It was overlaid with pure gold, within and without, and crowned with a mercy seat of pure gold. What was its purpose? It was a material thing representing a spiritual idea. It was a thing made with hands to symbolise things not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. It was a temporality pointing to a spirituality." (The Biblical Illustrator) They had the outward symbol but nothing inside. They had the house of Yahweh, but He had left the house.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. 6 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. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”

The box was brought forth. They had “the ark of the covenant" of the Lord of hosts, but they "put their trust in their ceremonial observances, not doubting but the very presence of the ark would give them the victory." (John Wesley) "There was no self-judgment, no repentance, no crying unto the Lord.” (Arno Gaebelein) In fact, all of Israel had heard the word of Samuel (1 Samuel 4:1a) but no one thought to inquire of him in the matter. Therefore Yahweh of host came not forth on their behalf.

“When the ark came into the camp, Israel, all Israel shouted — "from their great joy and confidence of success." (John Wesley) — "And the Philistines were afraid." They remember the conquests of the land and therefore they feared the Israelites. ”But without cause; 'for God' - who as Josephus well saith, 'was greater than the ark - was their enemy.'" (John Trapp) God “used the idolatrous Philistines as a rod to punish His people Israel, who had lapsed into an idolatrous state themselves." (L. M. Grant) Though they were not in covenant with Yahweh, they fought and won and took the symbol of the covenant away with the testimony. Notice that they attribute His mighty acts of conquest in Israel's days of glory to "these mighty gods." Though sore afraid, they resolve to fight, “Since you can expect no relief from your gods, who are not able to resist theirs, it concerns you to put forth all your strength and courage, and once for all to act like brave and valiant men." (Matthew Poole)

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

"While thirty four thousand of Israel fall in disobedience and error, the two sons of Eli did not escape.... The ark of God is taken, by hands less profane than those of the two Hebrew priests. With Joshua and holy men, the ark had divided the Jordan, and had thrown down the walls of Jericho. What a lesson, not to trust in exterior privileges while our hearts are profane." (Jospeh Sutcliffe) Hophni and Phinehas had "come into the field to fetch their bane, as had been foretold in 1 Samuel 2:34...

God’s menaces will be accomplished in their time; and yet most men hear and read them as they do the predictions of an almanac, which they think may come to pass, and it may be not." (John Trapp)

"'We eventually all learn what Israel discovered in battle against the Philistines. Having the paraphernalia of God and having God are not the same.' [Kenneth L. Chafin, p. 54.] The paraphernalia that modern believers sometimes rely on in place of God include a crucifix, a picture of Jesus, or a family Bible positioned conspicuously in the home but seldom read. Others base their hope of spiritual success on a spiritually strong spouse, regular church attendance, or even the daily reading of the Bible. These things, as good as they may be, are no substitute for a vital personal relationship with God." (Dr. Thomas Constable)

My Morning Manna: 1 Samuel 4: Eli’s Death

12 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. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 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. 15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see.

16 Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.” And he said, “What happened, my son?” 17 So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 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.

And he had judged Israel forty years.

This day— the judgment on Eli's house foretold by the man of God (1 Sam. 2: 27-36) and confirmed by Samuel (1 Sam. 3:11-14) Israel thought the ark of the covenant would save them from their enemies but they had no regard for the covenant nor the One whose shed blood made it effective. “Eli knew too much of the Eternal Guardian of Israel to put any real trust in the power of the lifeless ark.” (C. J. Ellicott) Any hope for a stay of the judgment must be established upon the mercy of Yahweh, based on true repentance and the blood of the covenant.

“Then a man of Benjamin”—“not Saul, as some of the Jewish doctors have dreamed, but another Benjamite" (John Trapp)—ran “out of the army, which was now in utter rout,” (Kretzmann) “each man to his own tent” (1 Samuel 4:10)— this man lived in his national inheritance of Shiloh. The messenger / soldier made it from the front line to Shiloh on he same day as the battle, "which was forty two miles from Ebenezer.” (John Gill) He arrived “with his clothes torn and dirt on his head” — the usual rites [in Israel] in great sorrows. See Genesis 37:29 Joshua 7:6, &c.; 2 Samuel 1:2,11.” (Matthew Poole) thus signifying “the rending, dividing, and scattering, of the people; [and] the earth, or ashes on the head, signified their humiliation: 'We are brought down to the dust of the earth; we are near to our graves.'" (Adam Clarke)

"Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God."

Moses stood while Israel was at war with his staff raised;

but Eli sat in judgment, which had been foretold to him by the man of God and confirmed by Yahweh through Samuel.

Eli “as a public magistrate, used, in dispensing justice, to seat himself daily in a spacious recess at the entrance gate of the city. In his intense anxiety to learn the issue of the battle, he took up his usual place as the most convenient for meeting with passers-by." (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown) "The old judge was naturally anxious for news from the army. It must be remembered the people had already (1 Samuel 4:2) suffered a great reverse in the first battle of Aphek, when 4,000 fell, but his chief anxiety was for that sacred Ark which he had allowed—no doubt against his better judgment—to leave the sanctuary.” (C. J. Ellicott) Perhaps it was taken "without his counsel or against his will.” (Daniel Whedon) It was definitely “taken without divine permission.” (Paul E. Kretzmann)

But as high priest, Eli knew the mercies of Yahweh and how repentance changes His mind concerning a judgment as seen in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19) “Had that mysterious light shone in the dark Holy of Holies since the night when the Divine voice spoke to the child, telling him the doom of the house of Ithamar? So he waited with sorrowful forebodings the advent of the messenger.” (C. J. Ellicott) What would be told of this particular day in Israel!?

The unnamed Benjaminite arrives, others in the city hearing first. At the his tidings, everyone who heard it “cried out with terror, so that Eli heard the sound of the cry, and asked the reason of this loud noise, whilst the messenger was hurrying towards him with the news” (Keil & Delitzsch)

“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.” (14)

HERE IS THE MESSAGE:

>>>>“Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” (17)>>>>

—“according as God had said before." (Geneva Study Bible) “The fugitive poured forth his news in four sharp sentences, every succeeding blow being harder, until the force of the message reached its climax in the crushing report that the ark was lost to the enemies.” (Paul E. Kretzmann)

"Eli spoke no more. His sons’ death had been the sign given him years before that the threatenings against his house should be fulfilled.” (A. McLaren) And “'The ark of God is taken!’” “Then burst the heart that had so long been sorrow-stricken, and, falling backwards from his seat, the venerable priest and Judge expired." (Daniel Whedon) Perhaps, the breath of God left Eli and he "fell off the seat... ; and his neck was broken and he died." It seems he was cut off. “Threatenings of coming judgments are represented by the prophets by their laying bands upon the people's necks (Deuteronomy 28:48 ; Isaiah 10:27 ; Jeremiah 27:2). Conquerors put their feet on the necks of their enemies as a sign of their subjection (Joshua 10:24 ; 2 Sam 22:41).” (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

“His forty years of judgeship ended thus.” (Alexander McLaren) "Whether he died in the faith I do not venture to judge, as the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to be silent on this head concerning him.” (Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary) But surely Israel suffered loss and the testimony of the prophet and his people suffered greatly. And the ark was permanently removed from Shiloh were it had rested 350 years.

One writer says: “Their candlestick was removed out of its place, and the city sunk and came to nothing." (John Wesley) "For though the ark itself was indeed soon after brought back to Israel from the land of the Philistines, yet it never after rested in Shiloh. Zion now became the hallowed spot, in the tribe of Judah. No doubt in allusion to him, and as typical of him who was the sum and substance of the ark, and who was to spring out of Judah. So is this event celebrated in Psalms 78:67-69… Oh precious Jesus! keep thy redeemed ones from darkening their prospects of thee, by leaning to creatures of any kind. Make us always to remember the rod is in the covenant. Let an eye be plucked out or a right arm cut off, if either would tend to rob thee of thy glory, and our souls of their comfort. Psalms 89:30-35." (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary)

We must repent, when needed. For “though dead, let him still speak to all supine and effeminate fathers who honour their sons above the laws of heaven, and above the gospel of Christ." (Joseph Sutcliffe)

My Morning Manna: Ichabod— No Glory 1 Samuel 4:

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s 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. 20 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. 21 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. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

The wife of Phinehas— one of Eli’s sons— "was not without natural affection, but her spiritual affections prevailed.” (Trapp) She hears of the capture of the ark and the death of Eli, her father-in-law, the death of her husband and his brother. And she declares the condition of Israel, knowing that the man of God’s prophecy had been established. She would not be comforted by the words of her hand maid.

“Dying, she named her baby son ‘Ichabod,’ which means ‘no glory.’ The glory had departed from Israel. Israel had indeed brought forth, by her departure from God, the condition of ‘Ichabod.’ The ark as the glory of God’s manifest presence among His people was gone.” (Arno Gaebelein)

“Conclusion:— 1. The presence of God should be accounted by us the greatest blessing, and his departure dreaded as the greatest calamity. 2. Whatever contributes to his departure must be zealously renounced or corrected (Lamentations 3:40). 3. No condition is altogether hopeless. ‘If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him,’ etc. (Deuteronomy 4:29). The glory of Israel, which, it was thought, had gone forever, was restored; and out of the night of sorrow a new day was born.—D.” (The Pulpit Commentaries) Fear not. O people of Israel:

“There is yet a Samuel in the land; and God has neither forsaken his ark, nor lost sight of his covenant. He has permitted these calamities for the punishment of the wicked, and for the instruction of his people; but he will yet raise Israel to greater glory than the nation has hitherto known. Let us therefore hope at the worst of times, and never despair while we have a God to chasten and to save.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)

“And she said”- again-, “‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’” (22) “This is repeated to shew, her piety, and that the public loss lay heavier upon her spirit, than her personal or domestic calamity.” (Wesley) “I should hope from the relation given of this woman, though her name be not mentioned, that she was a partaker of grace. Her chief sorrow was the loss of the ark of God. This is evident from calling her child Ichabod, that is, the glory is departed. Surely had she not loved God's glory, the departure of it would not have been so sensibly felt, to have induced such eventful consequences.” (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary) Then she died, showing that both righteous and unrighteous died temporal deaths in the incident. Surely it is appointed once for man to die and then the eternal judgment. (Heb. 9:27)

“In a higher sense the word ‘Ichabod’ is written over that which professes to be the church, but which has departed from the truth. The power and the manifest presence of Jehovah are lost.”(Arno Gaebelein) “The lesson of the ruin brought upon Churches by the covetousness and profligacy of their priests, which is here taught us so forcibly, and which has been again and again illustrated in Jews and Christians, is too solemn and important to be overlooked. When the glory of holiness departs from what should be a holy community, the glory of God‘s presence has already departed, and the outward tokens of His protection may be expected to depart soon likewise. (Cp. Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel 11:23; Revelation 2:5.) But though particular congregations may fall, our Lord‘s promise will never fail his people Matthew 28:20.” (Albert Barnes)