1,2 The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer 3-9 They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines 10,11 They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain 12-18 Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck 19-22 Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with I-cha-bod, dies

A.M. 2863 B.C. 1141 An. Ex. Is. 350
came. or, came to pass [heb] was 1Sa 3:11

Eben-ezer. That is, the place afterwards so called 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

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

put 1Sa 17:8,21

they joined battle [heb] the battle was spread
Israel Jos 7:5-8,12 Ps 44:9,10

and they Ps 79:7,8 106:40,41 La 3:40

the army [heb] the array

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

Wherefore De 29:24 Ps 74:1,11 Isa 50:1 58:3

Let us 1Sa 14:18 Nu 31:6 Jos 6:4,5 2Sa 15:25 Isa 1:11-15 Jer 7:4,8-15 Mt 3:9,10

fetch [heb] take unto us
the ark Nu 10:33 De 31:26 Jos 4:7 1Ch 17:1 Jer 3:16 Heb 9:4

it may save Jer 7:8-11 Am 5:21,22 Mt 23:25-28 Ro 2:28,29 1Co 10:1-5 2Ti 3:5 1Pe 3:21 Jude 1:5

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

which dwelleth 2Sa 6:2 2Ki 19:15 Ps 80:1 99:1

the cherubims Ex 25:18-22 Nu 7:89

Hophni 1Sa 2:12-17,22 Ps 50:16,17 Mal 1:9 Ac 19:15,16

with the ark Nu 4:5,15

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

all Israel They vainly supposed that the ark would save them, when the God of it had departed from them because of their wickedness Jud 15:14 Job 20:5 Jer 7:4 Am 6:3 Mic 2:11

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

What meaneth Ex 32:17,18

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

were afraid Ex 14:25 15:14-16 De 32:30

heretofore. [heb] yesterday or the third day

8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

smote Ex 7:5 9:14 Ps 78:43-51

9 Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

Be strong 2Sa 10:12 1Co 16:13 Eph 6:10,11

as they have De 28:47,48 Jud 10:7 13:1 Isa 14:2 33:1

quit yourselves like men. [heb] be men

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

Israel 1Sa 4:2 Le 26:17 De 28:25 Ps 78:9,60-64

every man 2Sa 20:1 1Ki 12:16 22:36 2Ki 14:12

a very great 2Sa 18:7 2Ch 13:17 28:5,6 Isa 10:3-6

11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

the ark 1Sa 2:32 Ps 78:61

the two sons 1Sa 2:34 Ps 78:64 Isa 3:11

were slain [heb] died

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

with his clothes rent These, as we have already remarked, were the general signs of sorrow and distress 2Sa 1:2

with earth Jos 7:6 2Sa 13:19 15:32 Ne 9:1 Job 2:12

13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon 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.

sat upon 1Sa 1:9

his heart Jos 7:9 Ne 1:3,4 Ps 26:8 79:1-8 137:4-6

14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

What meaneth 1Sa 4:6

15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

ninety 1Sa 3:2 Ps 90:10

and his eyes (See on Ge 27:1)
were dim [heb] stood

16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

What is there done. [heb] What is the thing 2Sa 1:4

my son 1Sa 3:6 Jos 7:19

17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

Israel 1Sa 4:10,11 3:11

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. And he had judged Israel forty years.

when he made 1Sa 4:21,22 Ps 26:8 42:3,10 69:9 La 2:15-19

his neck 1Sa 2:31,32 3:12,13 Le 10:3 1Co 11:30-32 1Pe 4:17,18

And he had. `He seems to have been a judge to do justice only, and that in south-west Israel.'

19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

be delivered. or, cry out.
came upon her. [heb] were turned

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

Fear not Ge 35:17,18 Joh 16:21

neither did she regard it. [heb] and set not her heart Ps 77:2

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

I-chabod. that is, Where is the glory? or There is no glory
The glory Ps 26:8 78:61,64 106:20 Jer 2:11 Ho 9:12

22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

The glory Ps 137:5,6 Joh 2:17