The Philistines Capture the Ark
1 Samuel 4:1-11 NLT
4 1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 4:1-11 NLT
4 1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.
3:20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord.
- The reliability of Samuel’s message made it evident that God was speaking through him.
3:21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
The Lord continued to give messages to Samuel.
- God reopened the lines of communication with Israel through Samuel.
3:1 Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.
Samuel’s role as a prophet was under way and would last for a lifetime.
A new era had begun.
- Samuel was God’s spokesman for all of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
Verse 1 continued At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines.
At this time in history, wars with other nations were common.
1 Chronicles 20:1 NLT
David Captures Rabbah
20:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, Joab led the Israelite army in successful attacks against the land of the Ammonites. In the process he laid siege to the city of Rabbah, attacking and destroying it. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 11:1 NLT
David and Bathsheba
11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
See verse 9
9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours!
Kings fought wars to expand their control (territory) and collect taxes from the defeated foes.
Ezra 4:12-13 NLT
12 “The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls. 13 And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.
- At this time in history, wars with other nations were common.
The Philistines were Israel’s principal enemy at this period of time.
The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek.
By camping at Aphek, well inland and north of the Philistine territory, the Philistines may have been trying to seize more Israelite territory.
Refer to a map
The exact location of Ebenezer is unknown.
2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.
- The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.
3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?”
- The Elders realized that their defeat was not the result of the Philistines’ skills, but rather it came about because God allowed it.
The Israelites were often defeated in battle because of the sin of an individual or because of the sin of the entire nation.
Joshua 7 tells the story of a man named Achan. Because of his sin Ai defeated the Israelites.
Compare this battle to the battle in 1 Chronicles 14:13-16.
1 Chronicles 14:13-16 NLT
13 But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 16 So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
In this case, there is no indication that the Israelites had asked God if they should engage the Philistines in battle.
This demonstrated Israel’s need for Samuel’s spiritual leadership.
Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it (some translations say “he”) will save us from our enemies.”
“it (the ark) will save us from our enemies.”
Carrying the Ark with them into battle was not necessarily a bad thing to do.
At this point in time the Israelites were taking matters into their own hands. They had not consulted God.
They were using the ark as a symbol of God’s presence.
or
It was religion vs. a relationship with God.
- The Israelites believed that carrying the Ark into battle would save them from their enemies.
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.
The Ark at Shiloh:
1 Samuel 1:24 NLT
24 When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh.
1 Samuel 3:3 NLT
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
The Ark was a representation of God’s presence. A symbol of God’s presence.
Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God.
Review:
1 Samuel 2:12 NLT
12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord.
12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. ESV
1 Samuel 2:22-25 NLT
22 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 23 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.
1 Samuel 3:11-14 NLT
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. 14 So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”
5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
Religion vs. relationship
6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel?
The Philistines were afraid of the “gods” (small g) of Israel represented by the Ark.
They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness.
The Philistines knew the story of a powerful god rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians.
“when Israel was in the wilderness” is not exactly accurate.
- The presence of the Ark frightened the Philistines.
9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
The losers become slaves.
10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.
More than 7 times the number of soldiers died in this battle compared to the previous battle.
The Ark did not bring the Israelites victory.
Performing a religious act did not save the Israelites.
- The Philistines killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers and won the battle.
11 The Ark of God was captured,
- The Ark of God was captured.
and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
- Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
1 Samuel 2:34 NLT
34 And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!
- God’s Word was fulfilled.
