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4:1b the Philistines: See “The Philistines” Profile. • The exact location of Ebenezer is unknown. It was probably just east of Aphek (see also 1 Sam 7:12 and corresponding study note). • Aphek was west of Shiloh, well inland and well north of Philistine territory. By camping there, the Philistines might have been trying to seize more Israelite territory.
4:10 30,000 was more than seven times as many as haddied previously without the Ark (4:2). The Israelites learned the hard way that the Ark was not a talisman to ward off misfortune.
4:11 That the Ark . . . was captured was devastating to the Israelites (4:12-22). • The deaths of Hophni and Phinehas fulfilled the Lord’s word to Eli (2:34). Although they are the only casualties named, they were not the only Israelites who had sinned (see 7:3-6).
4:12 had torn his clothes and put dust on his head: This description indicates grief and loss (e.g., Josh 7:6; 2 Sam 1:2; 15:32; Job 2:12).
Eli
Eli Eli was Israel’s chief priest at the Tabernacle at Shiloh, Israel’s central shrine during the period of the judges. Eli apparently descended from Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son (cp. 1 Kgs 2:27; 1 Chr 18:16; 24:3). Eli was sincere and devout, but he was weak in parenting his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. When Eli encountered Hannah at the Tabernacle, he accused her of drunkenness as she fervently but silently asked God for a child. Upon realizing his mistake, Eli blessed Hannah, and God answered Hannah’s prayer by giving her Samuel. Samuel “grew in favor with the Lord and with the people” (1 Sam 2:26), but Eli’s sons “were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord” (2:12). They stole from the offerings and seduced women who served at the Tabernacle. When Eli reproached them, they disregarded him. God sent a prophet to denounce Eli’s weakness and his sons’ wickedness and to announce that God would withdraw the priesthood from Eli’s family (2:27-36). This oracle was confirmed when God spoke to Samuel one night, telling him that he would soon punish Eli’s family (3:1-14). Shortly thereafter, Israel’s army was defeated in battle against the Philistines, the Ark of the C...
exodus 18:13-26
exodus 24:15-17
exodus 25:10-22
exodus 25:22
exodus 40:20-21
leviticus 16:2
leviticus 16:2-17
numbers 10:33-36
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest overlaid with gold, and it was placed within the Most Holy Place in the sanctuary. The Ark reminded Israel of God’s covenant with them; its contents included the tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments). On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would sprinkle blood on the Ark’s cover in order to purify the people (Lev 16:2-17). During Israel’s wilderness wanderings, the glory of God would appear over the Ark, and God would meet with his people there (see Exod 25:22). Throughout Israel’s history, the Ark served as a sign of God’s presence. It was carried before the people as they traveled (Num 10:33-36), and when it was brought to the Jordan River, the water stopped up so the Israelites could pass through on dry ground (Josh 3:4-6). The Ark was carried around Jericho before that city was invaded and was present during the siege of the Ammonite city of Rabbah during David’s time (2 Sam 11:1-11). The Philistines equated the Ark with Israel’s God (1 Sam 4:6-8). This is understandable because the Philistines brought images of their own gods into battle (2 Sam 5:21). The Israelites were not to use images of...