ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Samuel 4

1 Sam 4:1b–7:1 The ark of the covenant was the visible sign of God’s presence with Israel. After a disastrous defeat by the Philistines, the elders of Israel realize that the defeat was the work of the Lord, but apparently they do not seek to know how they have sinned. Instead, they decide that bringing the ark to the battlefield will save them. But that plan does not work. Israel is defeated, the ark is captured by the Philistines, and Eli and his sons die. However, the Lord cannot let the enemy think that they have defeated him. For seven months he causes plagues and disturbances wherever the Philistines take the ark, until they give up and send it back to Israel with a tribute of gold. The ark will then remain in Kiriath-jearim until David takes it to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). Samuel is completely absent from this story (reappearing in 1 Sam. 7:3), which indicates that these events took place while he was growing up.

1 Sam 4:1b–22 After suffering defeat in battle, the Israelites try to use the ark of the covenant to ensure victory. Instead, the Philistines defeat them again, killing Eli’s two sons and taking the ark into exile. When Eli hears of it, he suddenly dies. For reflections on these events see Ps. 78:58–66 and Jer. 7:8–15.

1 Sam 4:1b Aphek was 8 miles (13 km) east of Tel Aviv, north of the Philistia plain, and just to the west of the hill country of Ephraim. The location of Ebenezer is uncertain, but it may have been 2 miles (3.2 km) farther east.

1 Sam 4:3–4 from Shiloh. The ark of the covenant had been “in the temple of the Lord” in Shiloh (3:3). (On the details of the ark, see Ex. 25:10–22; 37:1–9; and illustration.) Moses was commanded by the Lord to put the tablets of the covenant, the “testimony,” into the ark (Ex. 25:16; Deut. 10:5; see 1 Kings 8:9). enthroned. The ark represented God’s actual presence among his people (Ex. 25:22). It showed that he was fighting for Israel. Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord . . . that it may come among us. The language here suggests that the people were treating the ark disrespectfully.

1 Sam 4:3 The elders of Israel were senior tribal leaders entrusted with important decisions. They realize that the defeat was a punishment from the Lord, but there is no indication that they want to know how they have sinned.

1 Sam 4:5 a mighty shout. The Israelites are confident in the ark’s power, but the rest of the story will show that they have failed to approach God’s presence in faith and obedience.

1 Sam 4:6 The Philistines usually refer to the Israelites as Hebrews (e.g., 14:11; 29:3). The term apparently comes from the name Eber (Gen. 10:21–25). “Hebrew” is an ethnic term for the people (see Gen. 14:13), while “Israel” is a religious and political designation.

1 Sam 4:7–8 A god. The Philistines thought the ark was an image of Israel’s God. Because they believed in the existence of many gods, the Philistines assumed Israel did as well. Struck the Egyptians . . . in the wilderness probably shows the Philistines’ ignorance about the exact course of events during Israel’s wilderness wanderings.