1 Samuel 4-5

The Journey of the Ark, courtesy of the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible

CHAPTER 4:
        Verses 1-11: Though the text doesn’t state specifically, we can presume from the conclusion of chapter 3 that Samuel is now a young adult. The end of chapter 3 as well as verse 1 here confirms that he is known throughout all Israel as a prophet of God. Verse 1 also re-introduces to the reader the Philistines, one of Israel’s greatest foes during the era of the judges. They have set up camp in Aphek, and the Israelite army has established their base at Ebenezer, which is about 40 miles northwest of the Dead Sea and about 8 miles from the Mediterranean coast, according to the Moody Bible Commentary. The name “Ebenezer” means “stone of help”. In the context of the events of this chapter, that name carries a note of irony. Apostate and disobedient Israel will receive no help from God in their battles against the Philistines.
           The first skirmish ends badly for Israel, with a total loss of about four thousand men. (v.2) The elders at the camp, without bothering to consult the LORD via Samuel for guidance, decide to bring the ark of the covenant out from Shiloh to carry with them into battle. (v.3) No doubt they’re remembering when the waters of the river Jordan parted for the priests who were carrying the ark, as well as the victory at Jericho. (Joshua 3:14-16, 6:6-7) The problem, however, is that much has changed between the time of that generation that first entered the promised land and the one now. This generation is confusing the ark itself for that which it’s supposed to represent. They’re spiritually ignorant because they know not the Lord, and they’re treating the ark as nothing more than a good luck charm.
               Eli’s sons, naturally, are tasked with bringing the ark to the camp, and so begins God’s judgment against Eli’s house as prophesied in the previous chapter. (v.4) The moment they enter the camp, the whole army gives a great shout that is heard all the way to the Philistine camp. (v.5) When the Philistines hear this, and after some reconnaissance on their part, they learn that the ark of the covenant is now present among the Israelite army. (v.6) This strikes fear into their hearts, and they remember the great victories that the Lord gave Israel in Egypt. (v.7-8) But rather than withdraw in fear, this news only emboldens the Philistine army, and they encourage one another to not give up the fight. (v.9) The phrase “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men…” is a common exhortation in the ANE at this time. (Deuteronomy 31:6-7, 23, Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 1 Corinthians 16:13)
            Israel suffers an even greater defeat in the second battle. Not only are thirty thousand of their soldiers dead (v.10), but the ark of the covenant is captured by the Philistines. (v.11) Both of Eli’s sons are also slain during the battle.
 
            Verses 12-18: A messenger from the battlefield arrives in Shiloh, his clothes torn and his head covered with dirt, per the custom of the ANE at this time whenever someone suffers a tragic loss. (v.12) (Joshua 7:6, 2 Samuel 13:19, 15:32, Nehemiah 9:1, Job 2:12) When he informs the people of the city what has happened, there is such a commotion of crying and mourning that the noise reaches the ears of Eli who’s sitting by the tabernacle, anxiously awaiting news of the battle and the return of the ark. (v.13) By this time Eli has become permanently blind, and so he doesn’t see the outward appearance of the messenger when the man arrives to give him the terrible news. (v.14-15) Eli is so stricken with grief over the death of his sons and the Philistines’ capture of the ark of God that he falls backward in his chair, breaking his neck in the process. (v.16-18) Thus ends his forty year service as high priest and judge of Israel. (v.18)
 
            Verses 19-22: At this same time, Phineas’ wife is in the process of giving birth. (v.19) When she learns of that day’s tragic events she names her son Ichabod, which means “no glory”. (v.21-22) The loss of the ark of the covenant means that God’s “…glory is departed from Israel…”. The ark had represented God’s presence among His chosen people. The “glory” was the visible manifestation of God’s presence dwelling among His people in the tabernacle. “One of Israel’s privileges was to enjoy God’s glory, that is, His manifest presence in the tabernacle. God was not taken away, but the capture of the ark signaled the tragic reality that the evidence of God’s glory had left His people.” (The Moody Bible Commentary)

CHAPTER 5:
             Verses 1-6: The Philistines, wrongly believing that their god, Dagon, is more powerful than the God of the Israelites, bring the ark of the covenant to Ashdod, setting it in their temple next to the statue of Dagon. (v.1-2) The next morning the people find the statue on the floor, fallen on its face before the ark. (v.3) In the ANE this was the customary posture of humility and worship. The Philistines set the statue back on its pedestal and continue with their false worship and daily activity. But the next morning they discover Dagon on the ground once again, this time without his head and hands. (v.4.) In the ANE, to cut off someone’s head and hands symbolized victory and were used as battlefield trophies. Therefore, the scene of Dagon without his head and hands communicates clearly to the Philistines that the God of Israel has conquered their false god. This naturally causes great fear in their hearts and they refuse to go near the threshold of the pedestal of Dagon. (v.5)
            But the righteous judgment of the one true God has only just begun against the enemy of Israel. He sends a plague of boils and other similar sores upon the people of Ashdod and the surrounding coast. The word “emerod” (v.6) is translated from the Hebrew word “techôr”, which means “tumors, hemorrhoids, or piles”, according to Strong’s concordance. (Deuteronomy 28:27, Psalm 78:66)
 
            Verses 7-12: It doesn’t take long for the men of Ashdod to put two and two together and realize that their troubles began when the “…ark of the God of Israel…” (v.7) arrived in their city. They immediately summon their lords and ask them what they should do. (v.8) The lords, naturally, tell the men to get the ark out of the city and take it to Gath instead. But the same plague that befell the people of Ashdod also appears among the citizens of Gath as soon as the ark arrives there. (v.9) This, of course, is “…the hand of the LORD…”, and He strikes the people of Ekron as well when the people of Gath pass the ark on to them. (v.10) By this time, word of the ark and its terrible curse has spread to all the Philistine cities in this region, and the men of Ekron summon the lords once more, demanding that they send the ark back to the Israelites. (v.11) The plague of boils and sores is so great that the Philistines end up crying out to the one true God for respite and mercy. (v.12)
 
            Just as He did with the Egyptians, God demonstrates to the Philistines that He alone is LORD and Creator of all, the one true God of heaven and earth. This passage proves that all of the people of Canaan knew of God before the Israelites even arrived in the promised land. Their conscience as well as the natural world around them had spoken to them of God and all His works, yet the people refused to believe, even after word of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt reached them in Canaan. This is why God ordered the Israelites to wipe out all the people of Canaan, and why He now brings judgment and wrath against the Philistines. They knew of God in their hearts, and they still rebelled against Him by worshiping their false god Dagon. For that, and for daring to touch the sacred ark of the covenant, God strikes them down with a deadly plague.