1 Samuel 4:4 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Samuel 4:4

The Ark of God Captured

2 Then the ^aPhilistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was¹ defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.

3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? ^aLet us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, ^awho dwells between ^bthe cherubim. And the ^ctwo 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 the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, ^a“Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.

8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 ^aBe strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, ^bas they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and ^aIsrael was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.

11 Also ^athe ark of God was captured; and ^bthe two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Death of Eli

12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and ^acame to Shiloh with his clothes torn and ^bdirt on his head.

13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on ^aa seat by the wayside watching, for his heart² trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out.

Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 4:4

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American Standard Version
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.

Amplified® Bible
So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, Who dwells above the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God.

Contemporary English Version
The army sent some soldiers to bring back the sacred chest from Shiloh, because the LORD All-Powerful has his throne on the winged creatures on top of the chest. As Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas,

Darby English Version
So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth between the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there by the ark of the covenant of God.

Good News Bible
So they sent messengers to Shiloh and got the Covenant Box of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned above the winged creatures. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, came along with the Covenant Box.

King James Version
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

New American Standard Bible
So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits {above} the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, {were} there with the ark of the covenant of God.

New International Version
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

New King James Version
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, stood there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Revised Standard Version
So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Young's Literal Translation
And the people sendeth to Shiloh, and they take up thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs, and there `are' two sons of Eli, with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas.

New English Translation
So the army¹ sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits between the cherubim. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

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