1Sa 4:1, 29:1 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER IV A battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which the former are defeated, with the loss of four thousand men , 1, 2. They resolve to give the Philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the Lord, with Hophni and Phinehas the priests, into the camp , 3, 4. They do so, and become vainly confident , 5. At this the Philistines are dismayed , 6-9. The battle commences; the Israelites are again defeated, with the loss of thirty thousand men; Hophni and Phinehas are among the slain; and the ark of the Lord is taken , 10, 11. A Benjamite runs with the news to Eli; who, hearing of the capture of the ark, falls from his seat, and breaks his neck , 12-18. The wife of Phinehas, hearing of the death of her husband, and father-in-law, and of the capture of the ark, is taken in untimely travail, beings forth a son, calls him I-chabod, and expires , 19-22. NOTES ON CHAP. IV Verse 1. The word of Samuel came to all Israel ] This clause certainly belongs to the preceding chapter, and is so placed by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac , and Arabic . Pitched beside Eben-ezer ] This name was not given to this place till more than twenty years after this battle, see ; for the monument called haeben haezer , the "Stone of Help," was erected by Samuel in the place which was afterwards from this circumstance, called Eben-ezer , when the Lord had given the Israelites a signal victory over the Philistines. It was situated in the tribe of Judah, between Mizpeh and Shen , and not far from the Aphek here mentioned. This is another proof that this book was compiled after the times and transactions which it records, and probably from memoranda which had been made by a contemporary writer.

‏ 1 Samuel 4:1

CHAPTER IV

A battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which the former are defeated, with the loss of four thousand men, 1, 2.

They resolve to give the Philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the Lord, with Hophni and Phinehas the priests, into the camp, 3, 4.

They do so, and become vainly confident, 5.

At this the Philistines are dismayed, 6-9.

The battle commences; the Israelites are again defeated, with the loss of thirty thousand men; Hophni and Phinehas are among the slain; and the ark of the Lord is taken, 10, 11.

A Benjamite runs with the news to Eli; who, hearing of the capture of the ark, falls from his seat, and breaks his neck,

12-18.

The wife of Phinehas, hearing of the death of her husband, and father-in-law, and of the capture of the ark, is taken in untimely travail, beings forth a son, calls him I-chabod, and expires, 19-22.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse 1. The word of Samuel came to all Israel] This clause certainly belongs to the preceding chapter, and is so placed by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic.

Pitched beside Eben-ezer] This name was not given to this place till more than twenty years after this battle, see 1Sa 7:12; for the monument called haeben haezer, the "Stone of Help," was erected by Samuel in the place which was afterwards from this circumstance, called Eben-ezer, when the Lord had given the Israelites a signal victory over the Philistines. It was situated in the tribe of Judah, between Mizpeh and Shen, and not far from the Aphek here mentioned. This is another proof that this book was compiled after the times and transactions which it records, and probably from memoranda which had been made by a contemporary writer.

‏ 1 Samuel 29:1

CHAPTER XXIX

The Philistines gather their armies together against Israel, and encamp at Aphek; while the Israelites encamp at Jezreel, 1.

The lords of the Philistines refuse to let David go to battle with them, lest he should betray them, 2-5.

Achish expresses his confidence in David; but begs him to return, 6-10.

David and his men return, 11.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX

Verse 1. To Aphek] This was a place in the valley of Jezreel, between Mounts Tabor and Gilboa.

Pitched by a fountain] To be near a fountain, or copious spring of water, was a point of great importance to an army in countries such as these, where water was so very scarce. It is supposed, as William of Tyre says, that it was at this same fountain that Saladin pitched his camp, while Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, pitched his by another fountain between Nazareth and Sephoris; each being anxious to secure that without which it was impossible for their armies to subsist.