Introduction
‘And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 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. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, ‘Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.’ So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.’ 1 Samuel 4:1-4
THE PHILISTINES CAPTURE THE ARK
The Lord used Samuel as Israel’s leader to bring Israel together again as a nation, and now the Philistines were getting concerned, 1 Samuel 4:1. Notice the Israelites camped at Ebenezer, 1 Samuel 4:1, which means the stone of help. The Philistines decide to gather at Aphek, Joshua 12:18, and initiate an attack against Israel, 1 Samuel 4:1, why? Simply because up until this point Israel was pretty much divided and as long as they remained divided, they posed no real threat to them.
It’s a sad fact that the Ark of the Covenant became somewhat of a ‘lucky charm’ for Israel over the years and this is what’s happening here. They were defeated by the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:2, and so, they thought getting the Ark was the answer.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This must have been a severe conflict, as four thousand were left dead on the field of battle. The contest also must have lasted some considerable time, as these were all slain hand to hand; swords and spears being in all probability the only weapons then used.’
They thought that God’s presence was symbolised by the ark, they thought God was confined to a box and so they took it into battle with them against the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:3. They totally ignored the fact that the Ark of the Covenant was supposed to remain in the tabernacle. The people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim, 1 Samuel 4:3.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In the evening of the defeat of the Israelites the elders held a council, and resolved to send for the ark, which is described in full, as implying that in virtue of the covenant God could not but give them the victory, Numbers 10:35; Joshua 3:10.’
Notice that Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God, 1 Samuel 4:4.
‘When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, ‘What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?’ When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. ‘A god has come into the camp,’ they said. ‘Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!’ So the Philistines fought, the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.’ 1 Samuel 4:5-11
When Israel’s ‘lucky charm’, that is, the Ark of the Covenant arrived in camp there was a lot of celebration, in fact, the shouts were so loud, the ground shook, 1 Samuel 4:5. The Philistines believed that the great gods had come to help Israel, 1 Samuel 4:6-7. They were terrified and felt they had no chance against the Israelite’s gods, 1 Samuel 4:8.
The Philistines believed it was these great gods who delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, 1 Samuel 4:8. It’s interesting how God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt over four-hundred years before but the Philistines knew about it four-hundred years later. This tells us that all the stories of the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea had been passed on from generation to generation, even outside of Israel.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This is a remarkable testimony on the part of the Philistines to the truth of the events which are recorded in the Pentateuch. The Philistines would of course hear of them, just as Balak and the people of Jericho did, Numbers 22:5 / Joshua 2:10.’
Notice the term the Philistines used to describe Israel, they called them ‘Hebrews’, 1 Samuel 4:9 / 1 Samuel 4:6 / Exodus 1:15 / Exodus 2:6, they always described them as Hebrews in derogatory terms. Israel was once again defeated by the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:10, and once again because the Israelites used the Ark of the Covenant as a ‘lucky charm’. This tells us that they were defeated because their hearts weren’t right with God. Notice the ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died, 1 Samuel 4:11.
THE DEATH OF ELI
‘That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, ‘What is the meaning of this uproar?’ The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. He told Eli, ‘I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.’ Eli asked, ‘What happened, my son?’ The man who brought the news replied, ‘Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.’ When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.’ 1 Samuel 4:12-18
The Benjamite who ran from the battle line to Shiloh tore his clothes with dust on his head, 1 Samuel 4:12. This was a symbol of sorrow and mourning. When the Benjamite arrived, Eli was sitting on his chair by the side of the road, Eli was concerned about the Ark of the Covenant and when everyone else found out what happened there was a cry to the Lord, 1 Samuel 4:13.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Eli.
‘He was a most mild and affectionate father, and yet the safety of the ark lay nearer to his heart than the safety of his two sons. Who can help feeling for this aged, venerable man?’
Eli heard the outcry but didn’t know the meaning of it, 1 Samuel 4:14. When Eli, who is now ninety-nine years old and was losing his eyesight, got told that the Ark had been captured by the Philistines and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas had died, 1 Samuel 4:11, he was shocked but it appears that he was more shocked that the Ark of the Covenant had been captured, 1 Samuel 4:15-17. As a result, he fell backwards from his seat and broke his neck1 Samuel 4:18. This was the end of his forty-year reign as a leader of Israel, 1 Samuel 4:18 / Judges 3:11.
‘His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, ‘Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.’ But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, ‘The Glory has departed from Israel’—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, ‘The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’ 1 Samuel 4:19-22
When Phinehas, 1 Samuel 4:19, that is, Eli’s other wife, 1 Samuel 1:2, who was heavily pregnant heard the news concerning the Ark of the Covenant and that her husband Eli and her two sons had died, she herself died whilst she was giving birth, 1 Samuel 4:19-20.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This is another very affecting story; the defeat of Israel, the capture of the ark, the death of her father-in-law, and the slaughter of her husband, were more than a woman in her circumstances, near the time of her delivery could bear. She bowed, travailed, was delivered of a son, gave the child a name indicative of the ruined state of Israel, and expired!’
Before dying, she gave birth to a son and named him, ‘Ichabod’, 1 Samuel 4:21, which means ‘no glory’. This was to be a reminder of the tragic events that took place when Israel fell to the Philistines, the ark was now gone and so now, God’s presence has departed, 1 Samuel 4:21-22.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘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, 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.’