Shmuel Alef 4:4

4 So HaAm sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the Aron Brit Hashem Tzva’os, Who dwelleth between the keruvim; and the two Bnei Eli, Chophni and Pinchas, were there with the Aron Brit HaElohim.

Shmuel Alef 4:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 4:4

So the people sent to Shiloh
They liked the proposal of the elders, took their advice, and joined with them in a message to Eli the high priest at Shiloh:

that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord
of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim;
which overshadowed the mercy seat that was upon the ark, and was the residence of the divine Majesty; wherefore having this with them, they concluded they should have the presence of God with them, and so success, see ( Psalms 53:1 ) ( 99:1 )

and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark
of the covenant of God;
these, either with or without the leave of Eli, took the ark out of the tabernacle, and carried it on their shoulders to the camp, or however attended it there, being borne by other priests or Levites; and by this means they were brought into the camp, and so to battle, to meet their doom there; according to Bunting ^F4, it was carried by them forty two miles.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 123.

Shmuel Alef 4:4 In-Context

2 And the Pelishtim (Philistines) put themselves in array to meet Yisroel [in battle]; and when the milchamah spread, Yisroel was defeated before the Pelishtim; and they slaughtered on the ma’arakhah (battleground) in the sadeh about arba’at alafim ish (four thousand men).

3 And when HaAm were come into the machaneh, the Ziknei Yisroel said, Why hath Hashem defeated us today before the Pelishtim (Philistines)? Let us bring the Aron Brit Hashem out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the palm of oyeveinu (our enemies).

4 So HaAm sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the Aron Brit Hashem Tzva’os, Who dwelleth between the keruvim; and the two Bnei Eli, Chophni and Pinchas, were there with the Aron Brit HaElohim.

5 And when the Aron Brit Hashem came into the machaneh, kol Yisroel shouted with a teru’ah gedolah, so that ha’aretz shook.

6 And when the Pelishtim (Philistines) heard the kol hateruah, they said, What meaneth kol hateruah hagedolah hazot in the machaneh HaIvrit? And they understood that the Aron Hashem was come into the machaneh.