1 Samuel 3:21 & 4:1-22
Q.1. What was happening to Samuel and the nation? What steps did Israel take after their defeat at the hands of the Philistines? Did Eli and his sons agree with this use of the ark? – (1 Sam.3:21-4:4)
In the previous chapter, we were told that – a word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent (1 Sam.3:1). That all began to change when Hannah dedicated her boy to the Lord (c.f. 1 Sam.1:11, 27-28). Thus – the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord. In this way the word of Samuel came to all Israel (1 Sam.3:21-4:1 c.f. 1 Sam.7:5-17). Eli and his sons had been an affront to God, and judgment would soon fall (1 Sam.2:30-35). This came about through war with the neighbouring Philistines – who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield (1 Sam.4:2). Israel had drifted far from God, because of the shocking behaviour of Eli’s sons. After their defeat, Israel decided to use the Ark of the Covenant as a ‘lucky charm’. They had lost sight of Whom it represented, namely – the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim (1 Sam.4:4).
Q.2. What difference did the Ark of the Covenant make to the battle? Why? What message did the Benjamite bring to Eli? What are we told about Eli? How did the news impact Eli? – (1 Sam.4:5-18)
When Hophni and Phinehas took the Ark into the camp of Israel, there was great celebration (1 Sam.4:5). When the Philistines learnt the cause the jubilation, they at first trembled at the news, as they recalled the amazing triumphs of Israel’s God in the past. However, they soon galvanised the troops together to fight courageously, lest they should fall into servitude (1 Sam.4:8-9). In the resultant battle, – 10 the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died (1 Sam.4:10-11). A Benjamite escaped and took the tragic news to Eli at Shiloh. Eli was almost blind at ninety-eight, and grossly obese (1 Sam.4:15-18). He was on edge because his sons had taken the ark into the battle. The Benjamite then conveyed the tragic news – 17 … “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy (1 Sam.4:17-18). Eli had judged Israel forty years.
Q.3. What are we told about Eli’s daughter-in-law? What happened to her and her baby? Why did she name the baby ‘Ichabod’? What did it signify about the nation? – (1 Sam.4:19-22)
Phinehas’s wife was pregnant, and the shock of the news brought on the birth of a son (1 Sam.4:19). Before she died – she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband (1 Sam.4:21). This was a word from the Lord, because – the glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken (1 Sam.4:22). She seemed to have a great respect for Eli and the Ark of the Covenant. She had more sensitivity towards God, than did her husband. God’s Covenant people had reached rock bottom.