1 Samuel 4:5-15

5 cumque venisset arca foederis Domini in castra vociferatus est omnis Israhel clamore grandi et personuit terra

6 et audierunt Philisthim vocem clamoris dixeruntque quaenam haec est vox clamoris magni in castris Hebraeorum et cognoverunt quod arca Domini venisset in castra

7 timueruntque Philisthim dicentes venit Deus in castra et ingemuerunt

8 vae nobis non enim fuit tanta exultatio heri et nudius tertius vae nobis quis nos servabit de manu deorum sublimium istorum hii sunt dii qui percusserunt Aegyptum omni plaga in deserto

9 confortamini et estote viri Philisthim ne serviatis Hebraeis sicut illi servierunt vobis confortamini et bellate

10 pugnaverunt ergo Philisthim et caesus est Israhel et fugit unusquisque in tabernaculum suum et facta est plaga magna nimis et ceciderunt de Israhel triginta milia peditum

11 et arca Dei capta est duoque filii Heli mortui sunt Ofni et Finees

12 currens autem vir de Beniamin ex acie venit in Silo in die illo scissa veste et conspersus pulvere caput

13 cumque ille venisset Heli sedebat super sellam contra viam aspectans erat enim cor eius pavens pro arca Domini vir autem ille postquam ingressus est nuntiavit urbi et ululavit omnis civitas

14 et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris dixitque quis est hic sonitus tumultus huius at ille festinavit et venit et adnuntiavit Heli

15 Heli autem erat nonaginta et octo annorum et oculi eius caligaverant et videre non poterat

1 Samuel 4:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 4

This chapter is a narrative of a war between Israel and the Philistines, in the time of Samuel, and of the consequences of it. In the first battle, the Philistines had the better of the Israelites, which caused the latter to inquire into the reason of it, and who proposed to fetch the ark of the Lord, and did, to repair their loss, and prepare for a second battle, in which they hoped to succeed, and which struck a panic into their enemies, 1Sa 4:1-7, who yet encouraged and stirred up one another to behave in a courageous manner, and victory a second time was on their side, a great number of the Israelites were slain, among whom were Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, and the ark of God was taken, 1Sa 4:8-11, the news of which being brought to Eli, he fell back and died, 1Sa 4:12-18 and to his daughter-in-law, who upon it fell into labour, and died also, 1Sa 4:19-22.