1 Samuel 4:17 kjv
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
1 Samuel 4:17 nkjv
So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured."
1 Samuel 4:17 niv
The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."
1 Samuel 4:17 esv
He who brought the news answered and said, "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 nlt
"Israel has been defeated by the Philistines," the messenger replied. "The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured."
1 Samuel 4 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:31-34 | "...behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house... and all the increase of your house shall die..." | Prophecy against Eli's house fulfilled |
| 1 Sam 3:11-14 | "...I am about to do a thing in Israel that the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken..." | Samuel's prophecy confirming Eli's judgment |
| 1 Sam 4:1-3 | "Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines... Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?" | Immediate context of battle and initial defeat |
| 1 Sam 4:10 | "So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter..." | Confirms the scale of the defeat |
| 1 Sam 4:11 | "And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died." | Summarizes the exact fulfillment in preceding verse |
| 1 Sam 4:18 | "As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died..." | Eli's fatal reaction to the Ark's capture |
| Josh 3:3, 6 | "...When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests..." | Ark as central to God's presence and guidance |
| Num 10:33-36 | "Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered!'" | Ark as a symbol of divine presence in battle |
| Ps 78:61 | "He delivered His strength to captivity and His glory into the enemy’s hand." | Echoes the disgrace of the Ark's capture |
| Ps 105:4 | "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!" | The Ark's significance as God's presence |
| Judg 20:26-27 | "...they went up to the house of God and wept, and remained there before the Lord and fasted... For the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days..." | Consulting God via the Ark in desperate times |
| Deut 28:15, 25 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God... The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies." | Broader context of disobedience leading to defeat |
| Prov 13:18 | "Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof will be honored." | Consequences of neglecting instruction (Eli's sons) |
| Isa 5:13 | "Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge..." | Consequences of spiritual blindness/corruption |
| Lam 2:10 | "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence... they have thrown dust on their heads; they have put on sackcloth." | Depicts sorrow over national disaster |
| Jer 7:12-14 | "Go now to My place that was in Shiloh, where I made My name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel." | God abandoning His sanctuary due to sin (foreshadows Shiloh's fate) |
| Eze 9:8 | "...Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?" | God's judgment leading to overwhelming loss |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | "And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it... and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah..." | God's holiness regarding the Ark (despite capture, it remains holy) |
| Rom 9:6 | "For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." | Spiritual Israel vs. physical descent; divine judgment on covenant people |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction..." | OT events, like Israel's defeat, as warnings |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | Contrasts with the physical Ark, access to God through Christ |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... by a new and living way..." | Ark's significance transcended by Christ's priestly work |
1 Samuel 4 verses
1 Samuel 4 17 Meaning
This verse recounts the four-fold devastating news delivered to the aged High Priest Eli concerning the battle against the Philistines. The messenger reports Israel's retreat, a massive casualty count, the death of Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and, most crucially, the capture of the Ark of God. Each piece of information intensifies the tragedy, with the loss of the Ark representing the ultimate theological catastrophe for Israel.
1 Samuel 4 17 Context
1 Samuel Chapter 4 narrates a significant turning point in Israel's history. Leading up to this verse, Israel engaged in battle with the Philistines, suffering an initial defeat. In desperation, they brought the Ark of God from Shiloh to the battlefield, hoping it would guarantee victory, viewing it almost as a good luck charm or a magical talisman rather than recognizing it as a symbol of God's holy presence that demands their obedience. The Philistines, fearful yet determined, launched a counter-attack, resulting in an even greater slaughter for Israel. Eli, old and nearly blind, waited anxiously in Shiloh for news, especially concerned for the Ark and his two disobedient sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were present with the Ark. This verse represents the climax of the disastrous news brought by a lone messenger from the front.
1 Samuel 4 17 Word analysis
- Then the messenger answered and said,: This introduces the crucial communication. The Hebrew term for "messenger" (מְבַשֵּׂר - mevasser) denotes one who brings news, often bad, particularly in ancient Near Eastern contexts where such news could dictate the immediate fate of a kingdom or person. The act of "answering and saying" suggests Eli's prior query or expectant posture.
- Israel has fled before the Philistines,: "Fled" (נָס - nas) signifies a complete rout and chaotic retreat, indicating a decisive military defeat for Israel. It’s the initial blow to Eli and the first part of the disaster.
- and there has also been a great slaughter among the people;: The Hebrew phrase for "great slaughter" (מַכָּה גְדֹלָה - makkah gedolah) implies not just casualties but a massive, devastating defeat or blow, emphasizing the immense loss of life. This confirms the severity of the rout, not merely a strategic withdrawal.
- your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,: This is a deeply personal blow to Eli, fulfilling the specific prophecy delivered against his household (1 Sam 2:34). Hophni and Phinehas, known for their wickedness and disrespect towards God, now meet their decreed end.
- and the ark of God has been captured.: This is the climactic and most devastating piece of news. "Captured" (לָקָח - laqach) means to be taken or seized. The "ark of God" (אֲרוֹן אֱלֹהִים - aron Elohim) was Israel's most sacred object, symbolizing God's throne, presence, and covenant. Its capture signified not just a military loss, but a profound theological crisis, indicating God’s judgment upon Israel and a perceived removal of His presence or glory (cf. Ichabod in 1 Sam 4:21). For Eli, a High Priest, this was more crushing than the death of his own sons.
1 Samuel 4 17 Bonus section
The news is presented as a descending spiral of disaster, starting broadly with national defeat, then personal tragedy, culminating in the spiritual and national catastrophe of the Ark's capture. This dramatic sequencing highlights the biblical priority of God's glory and presence above all else. For Eli, the news of the Ark's capture was so profound that it led to his immediate death (1 Sam 4:18), indicating his priestly devotion to God's holy symbol transcended even his grief for his sons. The incident with the Ark in Philistine territory, though not covered in this verse, will subsequently demonstrate that even captured, God's holiness and power are undeniable, shattering their idols and afflicting their cities, thereby showing God's sovereignty is not diminished by the Ark's physical absence from Israel.
1 Samuel 4 17 Commentary
1 Samuel 4:17 is a stark pronouncement of the total calamity that befell Israel due to their sin and Eli's failure to restrain his wicked sons. The messenger meticulously delivers the bad news, escalating its severity from national defeat, to immense casualties, to personal loss for Eli, and finally, to the unthinkable theological disaster of the Ark's capture. This gradual unveiling amplifies the shock and grief. The capture of the Ark signifies that God's presence, thought to guarantee victory, was no longer with an disobedient Israel, and His holiness would not be confined or manipulated. This moment marks the beginning of a significant transition in Israel, ultimately leading to the decline of Eli's priesthood and the rise of Samuel, serving as a solemn warning against spiritual complacency and a lack of reverent obedience to God, particularly among leadership. It underscores that God's presence is linked to covenant fidelity, not mere ritualistic possession of sacred objects.