4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of
Israel said, a 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.
(a) For it seems that this war was undertaken by Samuel's
commandment.
4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from
thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which
b dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the
covenant of God.
(b) For he used to appear to the Israelites between the
cherubim over the ark of the covenant, (Ex 25:17).
4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come
into the camp. And they said, c Woe unto us! for there
hath not been such a thing heretofore.
(c) Before we fought against men, and now God has come to
fight against us.
4:8 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 d wilderness.
(d) For in the Red Sea in the wilderness the Egyptians were
destroyed, which was the last of all his plagues.
4:10 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 e thirty
thousand footmen.
(e) David alluding to this place in (Ps 78:63) says
they were consumed with fire: meaning they were
suddenly destroyed.
4:12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came
to Shiloh the same day with his clothes f rent, and with
earth upon his head.
(f) In token of sorrow and mourning.
4:13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside
watching: for his heart g trembled for the ark of God.
And when the man came into the city, and told [it], all the
city cried out.
(g) Lest it should be taken by the enemy.
4:17 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, b are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
(b) According as God had said before.
4:19 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 i bowed herself and travailed;
for her pains came upon her.
(i) And positioned her body for her labour and delivery.
4:22 And she said, k The glory is departed from Israel: for
the ark of God is taken.
(k) She uttered her great sorrow by repeating her words.
