Keraia
1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:3

The Philistines Capture the Ark · 1 Samuel 4:1–11
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Translations

Modern
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”
Traditional
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
Literal
And the people had come into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, “Why has YHWH defeated us today before the face of the Philistines? Let us bring for ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of YHWH, that when it comes into our midst, it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”
Latin
Et reversus est populus ad castra: dixeruntque majores natu de Israël: Quare percussit nos Dominus hodie coram Philisthiim? afferamus ad nos de Silo arcam fœderis Domini, et veniat in medium nostri, ut salvet nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

Notes

1 Samuel 4:3

The Israelites were often defeated in war because of the sin of one individual or the entire nation (Joshua 7). In this defeat, no one checked if sin was the reason. It seems no one asked the Lord if they should fight the Philistines in the first place (see 1 Chronicles 14:13–16). Instead, the Israelites used the ark, the most sacred symbol of the Lord’s presence, as a way to bring good luck. Bringing the ark into battle was not always wrong (see Joshua 6:2–21), but it did not guarantee God’s blessing and victory.

1 Samuel 4:1–7:2

The crisis with the ark of the covenant showed Israel needed Samuel's leadership. It also fulfilled prophecies about Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14).

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan Shiloh: Israelite sanctuary and assembly point during the judges' period

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant Ashkelon Ebenezer Ephraim (Place) Samuel (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second Saul Shiloh

Topics

Aphek: A City of the Tribe of Issachar: Philistines Defeat Israelites At Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of the Covenant Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: An Oracle of God Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Set up in Shiloh Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Taken to Battle Priest: Duties of in Battle Superstition: Israelites Tabernacle: Pitched: At Shiloh Tents were Used by The People of Israel in all Their Wars The Philistines: Defeated Israel and Took the Ark