1 Samuel 4:6

6 When the Pelishtim heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? They understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

1 Samuel 4:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 4:6

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout
For it being so loud as to make the earth ring, it was heard in the camp of the Philistines, which might not be at any great distance from the camp of Israel; how far from each other were Aphek and Ebenezer is not certain;

they said, what meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of
the Hebrews?
they could not conceive what should be the reason of it, seeing they had no occasion to shout for joy, having been lately defeated; and a shout is made generally just before a battle is begun, and the onset made, or when victory is obtained; neither of which was the case now:

and they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp:
this they understood by spies, which they sent to find out the meaning of the shout; which is more probable than that they came to the knowledge of it by deserters; seeing it is not very likely that any Israelites would desert to the Philistines.

1 Samuel 4:6 In-Context

4 So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits [above] the Keruvim: and the two sons of `Eli, Hofni and Pinechas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Yisra'el shouted with a great shout, so that the eretz rang again.

6 When the Pelishtim heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? They understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

7 The Pelishtim were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. They said, Woe to us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe to us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that struck the Mitzrim with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.