1 Samuel Chapter 4 Summary: Chapter Summaries

1 Samuel chapter 4 summary began with Israel as they went out to battle against the Philistines. The Philistines were winning this, in fact they killed around four thousand (4,000) men of Israel.

The elders figured that Israel needed to bring out their secret weapon. Their secret weapon was the ark of the covenant, which represented the presence of the LORD. This would help them win the battle against the Philistines.

They only forgot that righteousness is needed to bring the actual presence of the LORD. At any rate, Eli’s sons brought the ark of the covenant of God to the camp and this did temporarily motivate the army of Israel.

1 Samuel Chapter 4 Summary

It kind of shook or rattled the Philistines as it reminded them of what God did to the Egyptians. Lucky for the Philistines, God was against Israel in this cause. In addition, the Philistines had a competent general who ordered them to calm down and fight like men.

It worked. The Philistines killed thirty-thousand (30,000) Hebrew soldiers in the battle. Israel fled the scene. The ark of the covenant was captured and taken by the Philistines. Among the 30K killed in Israel were Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas.

Then the news came to Eli. The messenger told Eli what happened at battle. When Eli heard that the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant, and that his sons were killed, the high priest fell back in his chair and broke his neck.

One of Eli’s son’s wife heard the news, she was pregnant at the time and went into labor. She was so depressed in losing her husband, father in law, and the ark of the covenant, she was near death.

Her attendants told her she was having a son and she did not even regard it. She just named the child Ichabod and saying, “the glory has departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken.”

This is the summary of chapter 4 of first Samuel, glory be to the ALMIGHTY God.

Selah

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