1 Samuel 4:1
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben–ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
1 Samuel 4:1 in other translations
| BSB | Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. |
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| WEB | The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. |
| ASV | 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. |
| YLT | And the word of Samuel is to all Israel, and Israel goeth out to meet the Philistines for battle, and they encamp by Eben-Ezer, and the Philistines have encamped in Aphek, |
| DARBY | And what Samuel had said happened to all Israel. And Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. |
| BBE | Now at that time the Philistines came together to make war against Israel, and the men of Israel went out to war against the Philistines and took up their position at the side of Eben-ezer: and the Philistines put their forces in position in Aphek. |
| Webster | 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. |
What does 1 Samuel 4:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Sa 4:1-11. Israel Overcome by the Philistines. 1. the word of Samuel came to all Israel--The character of Samuel as a prophet was now fully established. The want of an "open vision" was supplied by him, for "none of his words were let fall to the ground" (1Sa 3:19); and to his residence in Shiloh all the people of Israel repaired to consult him as an oracle, who, as the medium of receiving the divine command, or by his gift of a prophet, could inform them what was the mind of God. It is not improbable that the rising influence of the young prophet had alarmed the jealous fears of the Philistines. They had kept the Israelites in some degree of subjection ever since the death of Samson and were determined, by further crushing, to prevent the possibility of their being trained by the counsels, and under the leadership, of Samuel, to reassert their national independence. At all events, the Philistines were the aggressors (1Sa 4:2). But, on the other hand, the Israelites were rash and inconsiderate in rushing to the field without obtaining the sanction of Samuel as to the war, or having consulted him as to the subsequent measures they took. Israel went out against the Philistines to battle--that is, to resist this new incursion. Eben-ezer ... Aphek--Aphek, which means "strength," is a name applied to any fort or fastness. There were several Apheks in Palestine; but the mention of Eben-ezer determines this "Aphek" to be in the south, among the mountains of Judah, near the western entrance of the pass of Beth-horon, and consequently on the borders of the Philistine territory. The first encounter at Aphek being unsuccessful, the Israelites determined to renew the engagement in better circumstances.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
A battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which the former are defeated, with the loss of four thousand men, 1Sam 4:1, 1Sam 4:2. They resolve to give the Philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the Lord, with Hophni and Phinehas the priests, into the camp, 1Sam 4:3, 1Sam 4:4. They do so, and become vainly confident, 1Sam 4:5. At this the Philistines are dismayed, 1Sam 4:6-9. The battle commences; the Israelites are again defeated, with the loss of thirty thousand men; Hophni and Phinehas are among the slain; and the ark of the Lord is taken, 1Sam 4:10, 1Sam 4:11. A Benjamite runs with the news to Eli; who, hearing of the capture of the ark, falls from his seat, and breaks his neck, 1Sam 4:12-18. The wife of Phinehas, hearing of the death of her husband, and father-in-law, and of the capture of the ark, is taken in untimely travail, beings forth a son, calls him I-chabod, and expires, 1Sam 4:19-22. Verse 1 The word of Samuel came to all Israel - This clause certainly belongs to the preceding chapter, and is so placed by the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. Pitched beside Eben-ezer - This name was not given to this place till more than twenty years after this battle, see 1Sam 7:12; for the monument called האבן העזר haeben haezer, the "Stone of Help," was erected by Samuel in the place which was afterwards from this circumstance, called Eben-ezer, when the Lord had given the Israelites a signal victory over the Philistines. It was situated in the tribe of Judah, between Mizpeh and Shen, and not far from the Aphek here mentioned. This is another proof that this book was compiled after the times and transactions which it records, and probably from memoranda which had been made by a contemporary writer.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:1-9
Israel is smitten before the Philistines. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. They own the hand of God in their trouble; but, instead of submitting, they speak angrily, as not aware of any just provocation they had given him. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and then his heart frets against the Lord, Pr 19:3, and finds fault with him. They supposed that they could oblige God to appear for them, by bringing the ark into their camp. Those who have gone back in the life of religion, sometimes discover great fondness for the outward observances of it, as if those would save them; and as if the ark, God's throne, in the camp, would bring them to heaven, though the world and the flesh are on the throne in the heart.
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
1 Samuel 4:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for 1 Samuel 4:1
- 1 Samuel 29:1
Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
- 1 Samuel 7:12
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
- 1 Samuel 5:1
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben–ezer unto Ashdod.
- Joshua 12:18
The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
- 1 Kings 20:30
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben–hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
- Joshua 15:53
And Janum, and Beth–tappuah, and Aphekah,
- Joshua 19:30
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
- 1 Samuel 3:11
And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer.
3 They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines.
10 They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain.
12 Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck.
19 Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with I-chabod, dies.
A.M. 2863. B.C. 1141. An. Ex. Is. 350. came. or, came topass. Heb. was.
3:11
Eben-ezer.That is, the place afterwards so called: See the Parallel Texts.
5:1; 7:12
Aphek.This Aphek was situated in the tribe of Judah, and is probably the same as Aphekah.
Jos 15:53It must be carefully distinguished from that near Jezreel, and another in Asher.
29:1; Jos 19:30; 1Ki 20:30
3 They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines.
10 They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain.
12 Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck.
19 Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with I-chabod, dies.
A.M. 2863. B.C. 1141. An. Ex. Is. 350. came. or, came topass. Heb. was.
3:11
Eben-ezer.That is, the place afterwards so called: See the Parallel Texts.
5:1; 7:12
Aphek.This Aphek was situated in the tribe of Judah, and is probably the same as Aphekah.
Jos 15:53It must be carefully distinguished from that near Jezreel, and another in Asher.
29:1; Jos 19:30; 1Ki 20:30
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- 1 Samuel 4:1
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben–ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
- 1 Samuel 4:2
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.
1 Samuel 4:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y SAMUEL habló á todo Israel. Por aquel tiempo salió Israel á encontrar en batalla á los Filisteos, y asentó campo junto á Eben-ezer, y los Filisteos asentaron el suyo en Aphec. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Et ce que Samuel avait dit arriva à tout Israël. Et Israël sortit en bataille à la rencontre des Philistins, et ils campèrent près d’Ében-Ézer; et les Philistins campèrent à Aphek. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und das Wort Samuels erging an ganz Israel. Und Israel zog aus, den Philistern entgegen zum Streit; und sie lagerten sich bei Eben-Eser, und die Philister lagerten zu Aphek. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et factum est in diebus illis, convenerunt Philisthiim in pugnam: et egressus est Israël obviam Philisthiim in prælium, et castrametatus est juxta lapidem Adjutorii. Porro Philisthiim venerunt in Aphec, |