1 Samuel 4

 1Sa 4:1

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 

Summary

1. So Bible scholars think that the beginning of verse 1 belongs at the end of chapter 3. At the end of this verse:

1. 1Sa 3:21 And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah. "And the word of Samuel came to all Israel."

2. If so, then it suggests that it wasn't God that sent Israel out to fight against the Philistines. Based on the results that we will see occur, this may be the case.

3. Share "Aphek-Ebenezer.jpg"

1. 26 miles from Shiloh to Ebenezer

2. 1-1.5 miles from Ebenezer to Aphek

1Sa 4:2-3

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies. 

Summary

1. Vs2 The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. What does that mean?

1. Maybe put themselves in a row like the civil war?

2. Maybe they just got themselves setup for battle?

2. Vs2 Did Israel put themselves in array against the Philistines?? Unsure

3. Vs2 The Philistines kill about 4000 men

4. Vs3 The elders say "why did the Lord defeat us before the Philistines today?" Thoughts?

1. Either they thought that God told them to go?

2. Or maybe they thought if they went out against their enemies, God would automatically honor their request? Not sure

3. Does God automatically honor our requests in life to go against our enemies?

5. Vs3 Let us fetch the ark out of Shiloh that it may come to us and save us from our enemies? What does this sound like to you?

1. Sounds like the Elders are treating God like a good luck charm that will "help us accomplish our will". Using God

2. Foolishly placing their confidence in an external symbol, and not in the Lord himself

3. Like in a vampire movie, someone without any faith will just grab a crucifix and use it against a vampire. 

1 Sam 4:4-5

4 So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 

Summary

1. Vs4 So they go to Shiloh, and get the ark. (50 mile round trip-ish)

2. Vs4 Hophni and Phinehas are at Shiloh with the ark. 

1. If you have read the entire chapter, what can we safely assume? That Hophni and Phinehas travel to Ebenezer with the ark also.

3. Vs5 All Israel shouts with a great shout, so the earth makes an uproar. Why do they shout?

1. Their good luck charm has arrived?

2. Now God has arrived on the scene. We will win now!!

1 Sam 4:6-9

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah was come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. 8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. 

Summary

1. Vs6 The Philistines hear the shout…Notice their reaction!

 

1. What does this shout mean?

2. Didn't we just kill 4000 of their men?

3. Oh no, what if they brought the ark of their God into their camp?

1. Seem to have respect for God. Wonder why?

2. Vs7 The Philistines reaction

1. Afraid

2. Woe unto us!

3. Nothing like this has ever happened before! 

1. Seemed to be mindful of the reality of the spirit realm and that the Israelites God (or gods-per Septuagint) was truly there within their camp now and would oppose them.

2. Probably more mindful of the reality of the spirit realm then the Israelites were.

3. Vs8 Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us out of the hands of these:

1. Mighty god's (elohim)

1. Again, mindful of the spirit realm

2. "These are the same God's that smote the Egyptians with plagues in the wilderness!"

How did they know about that?

4. Vs9 Philistines give themselves a pep talk.

1. Be strong and be (behave like) men!

2. Don't become slaves to the Hebrews like they have been to us.

3. Be men and fight!

Who seems to respect God more? Israel or the Philistines?

1 Sam 4:10-11

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 

Summary

1. Vs10 The battle begins, and the Philistines whack the Israelites. The Israelites all flee back to his tents.

2. Vs10 30,000 footmen of Israel were slaughtered (34,000 in total)

3. Vs10 What can we take from this slaughter in regards to the ark?

 

1. The ark offered no refuge or security for the Israelites. 

1. Esp in the cavalier way they used it. Seemingly bringing it along in order to bless their endeavor.

4. Vs11 The Philistines take the ark of the covenant. Is this a punishment for Israel? For what?

5. Vs11 Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were both killed.

1. Spiritually speaking, which day does this occur? Which day does God judge the Eli and his sons ministry (or the church)? Day 7

2. Based on the types and shadows that we see, what is removed from Israel on day 7? 

1. The presence of God

1 Sam 4:12-15

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man hasted, and came and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see. 

Summary

1. Vs12 A man of Benjamin out of the battle that comes to Shiloh on the same day…HUGE METAPHOR!!!

1. A man of Benjamin? Why?

1. Hos 5:7-10 

7 They have dealt treacherously against Jehovah; for they have borne strange children: now shall the new moon devour them with their fields. 8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: sound an alarm at Beth-aven; behind thee, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah are like them that remove the landmark: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

2. Jer 6:1 

Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction.

The "Benjamin's" blow the trumpet

2. Benjamin was the last and youngest son of Jacob. Joseph his older brother is metaphoric for Jesus the first fruits of God. 

3. Benjamin on the other hand is metaphoric for the younger brother of Jesus or the many sons or the trees of righteousness that grow on day 7.

4. Means "son of the right hand".

1. Luk 6:6-11 

6 And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered. Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 And Jesus said unto them, I ask you, is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?  10 And he looked round about on them all, and said unto him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

2. Vs12 The man of Benjamin came to Shiloh on the same day…

1. Which day? Day 7 or 3

3. Vs12 The man of Benjamin had his clothes rent…

1. Joe 2:13 

and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

2. Here is the trumpet again:

Joe 2:14-15 

14 Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;

4. Vs12 The man of Benjamin had "earth upon his head".

1. Jos 7:6 

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads.

Mourning, humility, etc are the heart of the 7th day man.

5. Vs13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting there on a seat beside the road, watching because his heart trembled for the Ark of God. The man went into the town to give the report, and the whole town cried out.

1. What did we say the Eli ministry represents? The church.

2. The ark of God was taken by the Philistines and no longer dwells with us. 

3. Hophni and Phinehas are dead.

6. Vs14 Eli hears the sound of the cry and asks "what is the meaning of all the noise"? Then the man quickly comes and tells Eli.

1. Notice how the ignorant church system is unaware that the presence of God has been stolen or that his two sons are now dead either.

7. Vs15 almost as if it's an answer to our question about the state of the church, it describes Eli as having eyes that were "fixed" so that he could not see.

1 Sam 4:16-18

16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, How went the matter, my son? 17 And he that brought the tidings answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 

Summary 

1. Vs16 Eli asks the man from Benjamin, "where did you come from"?

1. He says twice "Out of the army (or array)". The first two instance in the bible that uses this word:

1. Exo 39:37 

the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light;

2. Lev 24:6 

And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before Jehovah. (Cakes)

Lamps and cakes set in order in God's holy place or on His holy table.

2. Vs16 Eli says "how did it go"?

1. Again, Eli the church is completely ignorant of their condition.

3. Vs17 The man responds "Israel has fled before the Philistines and there's been a great slaughter among the people and your two sons Hophni and Phinehas are dead"

4. Vs17 …and the ark of God has been taken. 

1. In other words, God's presence no longer dwells within the church on day 7.

5. Vs18 Once Eli hears about the ark He falls off his seat backwards and breaks his neck and dies.

1 Sam 4:19-22

19 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.