1 Samuel 4 1

1 Samuel 4:1 kjv

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

1 Samuel 4:1 nkjv

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

1 Samuel 4:1 niv

And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.

1 Samuel 4:1 esv

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.

1 Samuel 4:1 nlt

And Samuel's words went out to all the people of Israel. The Philistines Capture the Ark At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek.

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 1 Meaning

First Samuel 4:1 marks a critical transition in the narrative, beginning the account of a significant military defeat for Israel against the Philistines. It states that God's word through Samuel had reached all Israel, establishing Samuel's widespread prophetic authority, before detailing the fateful decision of Israel to go out to battle against the Philistines, setting the scene for a major national catastrophe that includes the capture of the Ark of the Covenant.

1 Samuel 4 1 Context

First Samuel 4:1 begins the climactic account of Israel's crushing defeat by the Philistines. Previously, in chapter 3, Samuel was established as a true prophet of the Lord, whose "word" came from God and was recognized throughout Israel. This recognition sets the stage for a dramatic contrast between God's clear revelation and Israel's subsequent presumptuous actions. The spiritual state of Israel, marked by the corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas) and widespread disobedience, provided a ripe environment for divine judgment, though the people themselves may not have fully realized their sin or sought God properly before initiating this conflict. The Philistines, a powerful and technologically superior sea people who had settled on the coastal plain, posed a constant threat to Israelite expansion and security. The battle described is not merely a geopolitical clash but a significant moment in redemptive history, revealing God's discipline of His people and demonstrating that His presence cannot be manipulated or contained within a physical object like the Ark, if His people are unfaithful. The setting near Ebenezer and Aphek points to strategic military positions where this fateful encounter took place.

1 Samuel 4 1 Word analysis

• And the word (וּדְבַר - udevār) of Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל - Shmu'el):

  • וּדְבַר (u'davar): Hebrew for "and the word," "and the matter," "and the event." It carries a weightier meaning than mere speech; it denotes a decree or an active message from God. Here, it signifies the prophetic pronouncements and revelations Samuel received and delivered.
  • Significance: This opening phrase is directly linked to 1 Sam 3:19-21, where Samuel's prophetic recognition throughout Israel is solidified. It underscores Samuel's divinely appointed role as God's spokesperson. This "word" from God through Samuel contrasts sharply with the "word of the LORD" being rare in Eli's time (1 Sam 3:1), signaling a shift in divine communication and authority. It also ironically precedes a major defeat, implying that while God's word was known, it was not necessarily heeded in Israel's actions regarding the battle.

• came (הָיָה - hāyāh):

  • הָיָה (hāyāh): "became," "came to pass," "existed." It suggests an established reality and effective reach.
  • Significance: The word did not just exist; it became widely known and acknowledged across the nation, validating Samuel's ministry.

• to all (לְכָל - lekhol) Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrā'ēl):

  • לְכָל (lekhol): "to all," signifying universality within the nation.
  • יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrā'ēl): "God strives" or "prince of God," referring to the collective twelve tribes.
  • Significance: God's message was broadly available to the entire covenant people, highlighting their collective responsibility. The defeat, therefore, would be a judgment on the nation's spiritual condition.

• Now Israel went out (וַיֵּצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayyēṣē’ Yisrā’ēl):

  • וַיֵּצֵא (vayyēṣē’): "and went out," perfect tense, suggesting an immediate past action. This implies Israel took the initiative for this military engagement.
  • Significance: This verb emphasizes Israel's active decision to engage in battle. Crucially, the text does not mention them inquiring of the Lord (through Urim and Thummim or a prophet) before going out, which was standard practice for battles in Israel's history (e.g., Judg 1:1, 20:23; 1 Sam 14:37; 23:2). Their initiative suggests presumption or reliance on their own judgment, rather than seeking divine guidance.

• against (לִקְרַאת - liqrāṯ) the Philistines (פְלִשְׁתִּים - Pelishtîm):

  • לִקְרַאת (liqrāṯ): "to meet," "against."
  • פְלִשְׁתִּים (Pelishtîm): A non-Semitic people, the "Sea Peoples," who settled the coastal plain of Canaan. They were technologically advanced (iron-working) and posed a significant threat to Israel throughout this period.
  • Significance: The Philistines are presented as the long-standing enemies of God's people, a constant source of oppression and temptation towards idolatry. This encounter begins a major period of conflict detailed throughout Samuel.

• to battle (לַמִּלְחָמָה - lammilḥāmāh):

  • לַמִּלְחָמָה (lammilḥāmāh): "for the battle."
  • Significance: This clarifies the intent – not skirmish but full-scale warfare.

• and encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ - vayyaḥănû) beside Ebenezer (אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר - ’Even hā-‘Ēzer):

  • וַיַּחֲנוּ (vayyaḥănû): "and they encamped," indicating a military camp setup.
  • אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר (’Even hā-‘Ēzer): "Stone of Help."
  • Significance: This name becomes powerfully ironic. A place associated with "help" would witness Israel's monumental defeat, contrasting sharply with its later designation by Samuel after a future victory against the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7:12. This geographical detail sets the specific battleground.

• and the Philistines encamped (וּפְלִשְׁתִּים חָנוּ - ûPhĕlištîm ḥānû) in Aphek (בַאֲפֵק - ba’Āphēq):

  • בַאֲפֵק (ba’Āphēq): A strategically significant city, meaning "fortress" or "stream-bed," located at the edge of the coastal plain, serving as a launching point for Philistine incursions into Israelite territory.
  • Significance: Establishes the opposing camp and strategic positioning, confirming the impending direct military confrontation. Aphek represents the Philistine stronghold and power.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the word of Samuel came to all Israel": This phrase establishes the immediate spiritual backdrop. It implies a prophetic era for Israel where God's voice was accessible. Yet, the ensuing defeat indicates a disconnect: Israel heard God's word (through Samuel's general prophetic activity and the spiritual state of the nation he preached to), but they failed to obey or rightly apply it in their critical actions. It foreshadows that hearing alone is insufficient; obedience is key.
• "Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle": This signifies Israel's active initiation of military conflict. The narrative intentionally omits any mention of them consulting God, inquiring through Eli, or seeking Samuel's specific prophetic counsel before the battle. This omission is critical, pointing to their presumption, self-reliance, or deep spiritual apathy despite the availability of God's prophet. They engaged in battle relying on conventional military strength and strategy, not divine leading.
• "and encamped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped in Aphek": This dual positioning sets the stage for a dramatic conflict. The locations are historically verifiable battle sites. The irony of "Ebenezer" (Stone of Help) before a great defeat serves as a powerful literary device to highlight Israel's desperate need for God's true help, which they would only find much later under Samuel's proper leadership.

1 Samuel 4 1 Bonus section

This verse, while seemingly a simple geographical and logistical setup for a battle, is profound in its subtle theological implications and narrative foreshadowing:

• Narrative Hinge: It serves as a critical pivot point from the era of corrupt priestly leadership (Eli's house) and nascent prophecy (Samuel's rise) to the national crisis of the Philistine dominance and the temporary absence of the Ark, which ultimately paves the way for monarchy.
• Implied Disobedience: The most significant unspoken aspect is Israel's lack of inquiry of the Lord before the battle. The absence of consultation, usually a crucial step in Israelite warfare (Num 27:21; Judg 1:1), directly implies a spiritual failing, especially in light of the acknowledged presence of a prophet like Samuel.
• Misplaced Confidence: This sets the stage for Israel's later superstitious and misguided act of bringing the Ark into battle (1 Sam 4:3) – an attempt to mechanistically manipulate divine power, which utterly fails because their hearts were not rightly postured towards God. The "word of Samuel" that "came to all Israel" did not lead them to proper reliance upon the God of that word.
• Sovereignty of God: Despite Israel's presumed action and the Philistine strength, the subsequent events demonstrate that God is ultimately in control. He allowed the defeat to chasten His people, highlighting His disciplinary hand and showcasing that true victory comes from Him alone, not from a nationalistic appeal to a sacred object without repentance and obedience.

1 Samuel 4 1 Commentary

First Samuel 4:1 acts as the stark preamble to one of Israel's most humiliating national disasters, the defeat by the Philistines and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. The verse intentionally opens by confirming that "the word of Samuel came to all Israel," underscoring Samuel's divinely appointed authority and the availability of God's revelation. This context amplifies the tragedy: Israel, possessing a genuine prophet of God, proceeded into a pivotal battle against its perennial oppressors, the Philistines, without seeking divine counsel. Their decision to "go out to battle" without explicit instruction or genuine seeking of the Lord indicates a profound spiritual blindness and a presumptuous self-reliance that characterized much of their period of apostasy under the corrupt leadership of Eli's sons.

The strategic locations mentioned, Ebenezer and Aphek, set the physical stage for this confrontation. Ebenezer, ironically named "Stone of Help," would witness a national calamity rather than salvation. This defeat was not merely a military failure; it was a divine judgment on Israel's sin, particularly their corrupt religious practices, their unfaithfulness to the covenant, and their misguided reliance on physical strength rather than the power and guidance of the living God. The chapter highlights that even widespread acknowledgment of God's word is insufficient without accompanying obedience and humble seeking of His will. This battle marked a significant turning point, demonstrating that God's presence, represented by the Ark, was not a charm for guaranteed victory but was subject to His sovereign will and responsive to the spiritual state of His people.