God’s Judgment Falls on Eli’s Family and on the Philistines
February 1, 2023
Commentary
In Samuel’s day the Philistines lived along the Mediterranean Sea near present day Gaza. They were constantly at war with Israel. During one particularly devastating battle the Israelites lost 4000 men (v. 2). The elders decided to bring the ark of the covenant closer to the fighting, hoping that it’s presence would bring favor from God and save them (vv. 1-3). The Israelites wrongly assumed that, because God had given them victory in the past, He would do it again even though they had strayed from Him. Eli’s two sinful sons, Hophni and Phinehas facilitated the Arc’s delivery. At first the strategy seems to be working (vv. 4-9). When the ark arrives in the camp the army’s confidence rose tremendously. And as the Israelites’ hopes rose the Philistines’ fell to the same degree. They knew about this God of Israel who’s already defeated the Egyptians. But when the fight resumed the next morning Israel lost again and this time 30,000 soldiers die (vv. 10-16)! What’s more, the ark of the covenant was captured and Hophni and Phinehas were killed (v. 17). When Eli heard about it he too died (v. 18). Phinehas’ wife also died in childbirth, and on her death bed she named her son Ichabod, because, she said, the glory had departed from Israel, for the ark of God had been captured (vv. 19-22). In reality the glory had departed from Israel not because the ark was lost but because the worship of God had been corrupted by her husband and brother-in-law.
The Philistines brought the ark of God to Ashdod, into the house of Dagon (v. 1). They placed the ark right in front of Dagon’s statue (v. 2). The Philistines worshiped many gods. They thought the more gods they could have on their side the more secure they would be. But the next morning, Dagon had fallen upon his face before the ark of the Lord. They placed the statue back in its place, but the next morning, Dagon was on the ground again, with his head and his hands broken off (vv. 3-5). The people were also plagued with boils, abscesses, and swellings (v. 6). The ark was moved from city to city and each time it brought great trouble and chaos to the citizens and they would move it again (vv. 7-12). Finally they decided to return the ark to Israel.
Application
Just like the Philistines, who didn’t act until they were afflicted with the plague, the people today often will not respond to biblical truth until they experience pain. Am I willing to listen to God for truth’s sake or do I only turn to Him when I am hurting?
1 Samuel 4:1– 12 (NET)
1 Samuel revealed the word of the Lord to all Israel.
2 The Philistines arranged their forces to fight Israel. As the battle spread out, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about 4,000 men in the battle line in the field.
3 When the army came back to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why did the Lord let us be defeated today by the Philistines? Let’s take with us the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. When it is with us, it will save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 So the army sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who sits between the cherubim. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the ground shook.
6 When the Philistines heard the sound of the shout, they said, “What is this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” Then they realized that the ark of the Lord had arrived at the camp. 7 The Philistines were scared because they thought that gods had come to the camp. They said, “Woe to us! We’ve never seen anything like this! 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert! 9 Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home. The slaughter was very great; 30,000 foot soldiers from Israel fell in battle. 11 The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.
12 On that day a Benjaminite ran from the battle lines and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head.