1 Samuel 4 Glory is Gone

A disaster, of God’s making, befalls Israel. Eli’s judgment comes and God’s glory is gone from Israel in the capture of the Ark. The Philistines take the Ark.

We are not told what precipitated the battle between the Philistines and Israel. I imagine it was a rebellion against the ‘slavery’ they were living under. Whatever the instigating reason, the two nations were face to face, again. Not the first time, or the last, these two would face off.

Israel was expecting to be victorious. They expected God to fight for them. He had on SO MANY occasions. They went in with confidence. But they didn’t know the plans that God had for them. Let’s join in their story as they walk where God is directing.

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Samuel has taken on more responsibility in the Tabernacle as Eli aged. Hophni and Phinehas can’t be bothered to deal with the ‘trivial’ things. They continue to assert their authority only when it profits them. They have grown fat from their practices. And their bounty has made Eli fat as well. Samuel, as he is the only one whom the Lord has been speaking through, guides the people with wisdom but from a lesser position than that of full authority. Eli is still the high priest and his sons serve as second.

There is unrest in Israel. They are tired of the Philistines grabbing the best they have. They are slaves to the Philistine’s desires. The leaders of Israel have decided to come together against their oppressors.

“Why should we ask Eli for his blessing? He ignores his sons’ abuse of the people, and the Lord. We are still the Lord’s people. We will prevail in battle against His enemies.”

“Then it is agreed. We will come as one against the Philistines in one week.”

Israel marshals her forces during that week and on the final day, they move into position. They made their camp at Ebenezer. The Philistines, aware of Israel’s troop movements, pitch their camp at Aphek. Close enough that one army can see the camp of the other, but not make out details. Each can see large troop movements though and be ready for battle as the other marches into the space between.

On the first day, Israel is excited. The Lord has been gracious and granted them great victories over those who would oppress them. Besides all that, their numbers are impressive! All Israel has come together. Who can stand against such strength?

Back in Shiloh, those in the service to the Lord, have heard about the battle but have not been called upon to take part in any way. Life continues on as usual. Those bringing sacrifices has declined significantly over the last week, as the men are readying for battle. There is an expectancy though that permeates those left behind.

Israel takes to the field of battle across from the Philistines. Swords clash, arrows fly, chariots descend, and blood is spilt as the two meet in fierce competition. This day, the Philistines push their advantage. As evening falls, Israel is pushed back into their camp, leaving four thousand men dead or dying on the battle field. The Philistines end their day rejoicing.

“Did you see them run?! We should have pushed them all the way back instead of allowing them to return to their camp.”

“It is still early. There is plenty of time. We will defeat them soundly. They won’t dare raise their heads again when we are done with them.”

Back in the camp of Israel, they are rehashing the battle too.

“What happened? Why were we defeated? We are the Lord’s anointed!”

“Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” (1 Samuel 4:3)

Once this idea was voiced, it took on a life of its own. There would be NO going forward until the Ark of the Lord arrived! A small band of soldiers were sent to Shiloh while the rest of Israel waited.

Eli was waiting by the doorpost, his usual place, when the band of soldiers reached Shiloh. They went straight to him as he was the high priest.

“My lord, Eli. We must bring the Ark of the Lord back to the battle with us. The Philistines are mighty in battle and we need the Ark to rule the day.”

“I cannot take the Ark into battle! I am blind from age. It would surely fall into the enemies’ hands.”

“Then have your sons carry it in your place. Surely the Lord will fight for us when the Ark is among us.”

Hophni and Phinehas had stationed themselves near enough to overhear the conversation. At the mention of themselves, they stepped forward, ready to be of service.

“Certainly! We will escort the Ark of the Lord. With its presence among the people, we will be victorious.”

Eli hesitates. There is something about this that doesn’t feel right. But his fears are brushed aside by his sons and the contingent of soldiers who have come. Four of the priests are chosen to carry the Ark. When all the men are ready, they stand before Eli once again.

“You must go into the Holy of Holies and cover the Ark. We have to leave as soon as possible.”

Eli relents. He knows though that there is a process even for him to enter into the Holy of Holies. He does NOT want to be struck down.

“Prepare the sacrifice for me so that I may appear before the Lord and not be struck down.”

Hophni and Phinehas call for Samuel. He will be the one to kill and section the animal. Eli’s sons will present it once Samuel prepares Eli’s sacrifice.

“Samuel, prepare a sacrifice for the high priest so that he may appear before the Lord.”

Samuel nods and sets about the work. He selects the perfect goat for the sin offering and a bull for the purification offering. He brought these to Eli for him to place his hands on their heads, transferring any of his sin to the animals. Hophni and Phinehas stood by with the bowls to receive the blood of the animals as Samuel killed and quartered them. Samuel removed the fat and the required pieces for the Lord from each and gave them to Hophni and Phinehas to present before the Lord.

Once all that belonged to the Lord had been offered on the altar, the bowl with the remaining blood was placed into Eli’s hands. Samuel guided him into the Tabernacle. Samuel steps back and averts his eyes as Eli moves the veil to one side and feels for the coverings. Eli very carefully pulls the coverings over the Ark.

“Samuel.”

“Yes my lord.”

“It is ready. Call the priests so they may come and carry the Ark.”

Samuel steps outside of the Holy place; the place that has been his home since he was small. “Come. Eli, the Lord’s high priest, has prepared the Ark. It is safe to travel.”

Hophni and Phinehas wait outside the Holy place while the Ark is brought out. Samuel, leading Eli by the hand, are the last to emerge.

All the while this was going on, Samuel knew in his spirit that God had a special plan for today. He didn’t know what it was, but he didn’t see it as being something Israel would welcome. He kept his counsel to himself though; for that is what was impressed upon him by the Lord to do.

Before the Ark leaves the courtyard of the Tabernacle, Eli calls out to those carrying it. “Be on guard. I do not have peace about this.”

Hophni and Phinehas roll their eyes but their father cannot see it. “The Lord will go with us” they chorus together.

Eli listens as the sounds of marching feet retreat into the distance. Once he can hear them no more, he speaks to Samuel. “Take me to the road on which they left. I want to be there when the Ark returns.”

“It will be many days before the Ark should return, my lord. I could bring you there at that time instead.”

“NO. I will wait for the Ark from that place each day. I will only leave my station to relieve myself or to sleep. I must stand guard.”

“As you wish, my lord” replied Samuel.

Samuel brought a comfortable stool for Eli and placed it beside the road leading into Shiloh. Eli took up his position of watch that very hour.

It took two days for those carrying the Ark to reach Israel’s camp. The mountains made the journey treacherous. The guards were extra cautious when approaching any passes, in case the Philistines had broken through in their absence and learned of their mission. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they were welcomed by the sentries.

“What has happened in our absence” one of the soldiers guarding the Ark asked of the sentry.

“Israel has stayed in camp since you left. The Philistines came out one day, but when we did not rise to meet them, they returned to their camp as well.

Those in the camp noticed the procession moving their way. Word passed quickly, and by the time the Ark arrived in the camp, all of the people were gathered to welcome them. A cheer went up so loud that it reverberated off the mountains surrounding them. Their stomps of excited feet shook the earth deep into the heart of the Philistine’s camp.

As Israel celebrated, the Philistines wondered. “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” (1 Samuel 4:6)

The spies who had been on guard quickly made their way back to camp to report on what they had seen.

“A god has come into the camp.” (1 Samuel 4:7a)

Fear gripped the hearts of every man in the camp. “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.” (1 Samuel 4:7b)

A cry rose up within the Philistine’s camp. “Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.” (1 Samuel 4:8)

The king of Lod rose up and shouted to the men. “Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” (1 Samuel 4:9)

The Philistines quickly formed ranks and rushed into the battle space between the two camps. A shout went up from Israel’s sentries as the troop movement was noted. “Prepare for battle!”

Soon both camps were engaged in fierce battle. Israel was fighting with all their might, believing they would be victorious. The Philistines were fighting for their lives; calling on strength even they didn’t know they possessed. Israel was being driven back inch by inch on the battle field. Bodies fell with every push; Israelite bodies. Hophni and Phinehas moved the Ark closer to the front of the camp to give their men encouragement.

The line broke! The Philistines started swarming over the top of the best of Israel’s soldiers and pushed their way into camp. Israel’s soldiers started scattering like chaff in the wind. Every man ran for his life. Hophni and Phinehas turned to run as well but were struck down as they fled. The priests carrying the ark held fast to the poles of the Ark, expecting God to spare them, but they fell as one, with the Ark landing squarely atop their bodies.

A might roar of victory sounded from the Philistines as they watched the men of Israel flee before them. Thirty thousand of Israel’s foot soldiers, the priests carrying the Ark and the sons of Eli lay dead on the battlefield and in the camp. After the Ark fell, little was put into the chase by the Philistines. They were too busy looting what was left behind, including the Ark of the Lord.

A single man from Benjamin made his way from the battle to Shiloh. His clothes were torn and he was dirty from head to toe. He had seen the Ark fall and Eli’s sons’ deaths. His only thought was to bring word back to the people of Shiloh.

Eli had taken up his stook early that morning. He faced the direction that news would come from. His heart told him to expect something today. As he hears a single set of running feet, his blind eyes try and search out its source. The man passed him by and ran straight into the city.

“The army of Israel has been defeated” He cried to the first priest he met.

Others were within earshot and the began questioning him. “What of the high priest’s sons? What of the Ark of the Covenant?!”

“They have all fallen into the hands of the Philistines” he wailed.

A wail of grief went up from all who had gathered around to hear his account. Eli heard the commotion and called out to any who would listen.

“What is this uproar?” (1 Samuel 4:14b)

The man hurried over to where Eli sat. “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” (1 Samuel 4:16a)

With trembling hands, Eli asked his burning question. “How did it go, my son?” (1 Samuel 4:16b)

The man fell to his knees in front of Eli. Pain was evident in every syllable as he relayed the events of the day. “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel 4:17)

Eli’s body stiffened as soon as the words regarding the Ark of God were uttered. He fell over backwards from his stool and landed with a great thud. The man jumped in surprise as Eli fell. Then he rushed to his side. Eli was dead as soon as he hit the ground. It was learned that he had broken his neck.

In the home of Phinehas, news was quickly brought to her; not only of the results of the battle but of Eli’s death as well. She had not come out earlier when the commotion started as she was nineth months pregnant.

Immediately upon hearing the news, her body convulsed and began hard contractions.

“Quickly! Bring the midwife” yelled her personal servant.

By the time the midwife arrived, she was in deep labor. The birthing stool was placed under her and she was held up by two of her female servants. The midwife knew there was trouble as blood gushed from her along with the fluids of the birth sack.

Life was draining out of her as her child made his entrance into the world. The woman on her left called out encouragement to her.

“Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” (1 Samuel 4:20)

But there was no comfort to be found for her. As her strength faded, she named her child Ichabod; meaning “where is the glory.”

With her last breath she cried out; “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel 4:22)

Ichabod would know neither his father nor his mother. He was taken by a servant to his cousin’s house. He would receive no glory in his life and be heralded as a harbinger of doom because of his name.

(to be continued)

One thing I noticed in this story is that the people were putting their trust in the Ark itself, instead of the One who occupied the Mercy Seat. The Ark became an idol. They worshiped it instead of the One it represented. I wonder if this is why it was taken from them. Even the serpent Moses made in the wilderness became an idol. Something that would be destroyed one day because of that attitude. We serve a God who is NOT contained in things or symbols.

These events had to set the stage for what would come next. I wonder if the absence of the Ark, or at least it’s absence from the Tabernacle, is what spurred Israel into asking for a king. This event would also be the beginning of Samuel stepping front and center as the last judge for Israel.