1 Samuel 4:20

20 And in that moment of her death, (the) women that stood about her said to her, Dread thou not, for thou hast childed a son. And she answered not to them, neither she took heed. (And at the moment of her death, the women who stood about her said to her, Fear thou not, for thou hast borne a son. But she did not answer them, nor take any heed.)

1 Samuel 4:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 4:20

And about the time of her death
Which quickly came on after she was brought to bed:

the women that stood by her;
who were called to her labour, and assisted at it:

said unto her, fear not, for thou hast born a son;
perceiving that she was very low spirited, endeavoured to cheer and comfort her, by observing to her that the worst was over; and besides she had brought forth a man child, which was usually matter of joy to a family, and particularly to the woman that bears it, which causes her to forget the sorrows and pains she has gone through in bearing it, ( John 16:21 ) but she answered not, neither did she regard it; said not one word in answer to them, nor was the least affected with joy and pleasure at what they related to her; being not only a dying woman, on the borders of another world, and so had no relish for temporal enjoyments, but also overcome with grief with what had happened, not only to her family, but more especially to the ark of God.

1 Samuel 4:20 In-Context

18 And when he named the ark of God, Eli felled (off) from the seat backward beside the door, and was dead (and he died); for his neck was broken. For he was an eld man, and of great age; and he deemed Israel forty years.
19 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas? wife, was with child, and nigh the child bearing; and when the message was heard/and when she (had) heard by the messenger, that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law was dead, and (also) her husband, she bowed herself down, and childed; for sudden sorrows felled into her (for suddenly her pains came upon her).
20 And in that moment of her death, (the) women that stood about her said to her, Dread thou not, for thou hast childed a son. And she answered not to them, neither she took heed. (And at the moment of her death, the women who stood about her said to her, Fear thou not, for thou hast borne a son. But she did not answer them, nor take any heed.)
21 And she called the child Ichabod, that is, without glory, and said, The glory of the Lord is translated from Israel, for the ark of God is taken; and for her father-in-law and for her husband (And she called the child Ichabod, that is, Without glory, and said, Now the glory of the Lord hath been taken away from Israel; for the Ark of God was taken, and her father-in-law, and her husband, were dead;)
22 she said, The glory of God is translated from Israel/is taken from Israel, for the ark of God is taken. (and she said again, The glory of God hath been taken away from Israel, for the Ark of God hath been taken from us.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.