1 Samuel 4 3

1 Samuel 4:3 kjv

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

1 Samuel 4:3 nkjv

And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies."

1 Samuel 4:3 niv

When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

1 Samuel 4:3 esv

And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "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 nlt

After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?" Then they said, "Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies."

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 3 Meaning

Upon suffering a severe defeat by the Philistines, the elders of Israel sought an immediate solution, interpreting their loss as God's "smitting." Instead of introspection, repentance, or obedience, they conceived a plan to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to their camp, erroneously believing its mere physical presence would mechanistically guarantee victory and salvation from their enemies. This revealed a profound spiritual misunderstanding, treating a symbol of God's covenant relationship as a magical talisman rather than recognizing God's sovereignty and His demand for true faith and holiness.

1 Samuel 4 3 Context

Prior to 1 Samuel 4:3, the Israelites suffered a significant defeat by the Philistines at Ebenezer, losing 4,000 men. This military setback directly prompts the discussion among the elders. This period marked a low point in Israel's spiritual history, at the close of the Judges era and the cusp of the monarchy. The spiritual and moral decline of the nation was profound, reflected particularly in the corrupt priesthood under Eli and his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2:12-17). Shiloh had been the central place of worship, where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant resided since the time of Joshua (Josh 18:1). The elders' decision to bring the Ark was not based on divine command or sincere repentance but on a misguided, superstitious belief in its power as an automatic good-luck charm, indicating a deep perversion of true faith and reverence for God's holy presence.

1 Samuel 4 3 Word analysis

• And when the people were come into the camp:
  • people: Hebrew: עַם (‘am). Refers to the collective assembly of Israelite soldiers, suggesting a united experience of recent defeat.
  • camp: Hebrew: מַחֲנֶה (machaneh). Denotes a military encampment, specifically where the demoralized army retreated after their initial loss. This setting highlights the immediate, desperate context of the elders' discussion.
• the elders of Israel said:
  • elders of Israel: Hebrew: זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (ziqnei Yisrael). These were the established tribal and community leaders responsible for advising the people and making communal decisions. Their voice carried authority, making their proposed solution influential. Their lack of spiritual discernment points to a systemic spiritual decline in leadership.
• Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines?:
  • Wherefore: Hebrew: לָמָּה (lammah). A question implying bewilderment and a search for cause, but one that falls short of true spiritual self-examination.
  • Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (Yahweh). The covenant name of God. The elders correctly attributed their defeat to God's hand ("smitten us") but failed to connect it to their own covenant disobedience, choosing instead to focus on external solutions.
  • smitten: Hebrew: נְגָפָנוּ (n'gafanu), from נָגַף (nagaph). Signifies a divinely inflicted blow, a defeat orchestrated by God. Acknowledging this implies understanding divine judgment, but their reaction shows a profound lack of understanding as to why God acted.
  • to day: Highlights the immediacy of their fresh defeat, underscoring their panic and superficial reflection.
  • before the Philistines: Emphasizes the public nature of their humiliation and shame at being defeated by a pagan enemy, underscoring a focus on reputation rather than genuine repentance before God.
• Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
  • fetch: Hebrew: נִקְחָה (niqchah). An active verb, indicating their deliberate decision to initiate this plan. It's a human action, not a divine command.
  • ark: Hebrew: אֲרוֹן (aron). The sacred chest that contained the tables of the covenant (Exod 25:10-22). It represented God's throne, presence, and covenant faithfulness, not an autonomous power source or a charm. Misusing it indicated treating God's presence as controllable.
  • covenant: Hebrew: בְּרִית (berit). The formal, binding agreement between Yahweh and Israel, requiring Israel's faithfulness and obedience. Carrying the "covenant" itself while violating its terms showcases profound spiritual disconnect.
  • Shiloh: Hebrew: שִׁלֹה (Shiloh). The central sanctuary and resting place for the Ark since Joshua's time (Josh 18:1). Moving the Ark without divine direction or a theological reason demonstrated disrespect for the divine order and marked a desperate attempt born of superstition rather than faith.
  • may save us: Hebrew: וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ (v'yôshiy‘ênu), from יָשַׁע (yasha‘), to deliver or rescue. This reveals their central error: believing the object itself could provide salvation, rather than the sovereign God whom it symbolized and who demands sincere faith and obedience from His people. They sought salvation through a mechanical or superstitious means, bypassing true repentance.

Words-group analysis

• the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us: This phrase highlights the leadership's attempt to grapple with their military defeat by acknowledging God's hand in it. However, their question reveals superficial understanding; they attribute the smiting to God but do not consider their own actions or sin as the cause, thus missing the fundamental problem of their covenant infidelity.
• Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that... it may save us: This sentence captures the core misguided thinking. It demonstrates a belief that the Ark was an automatic deliverer or good luck charm, reducing God's holy presence to a manipulable object. This was an attempt to invoke divine power without addressing the moral and spiritual prerequisites of obedience and repentance that defined the covenant relationship represented by the Ark. They viewed the Ark as a means to control God rather than a symbol to worship Him.

1 Samuel 4 3 Bonus section

• This passage stands as a significant polemic against treating holy objects or religious rituals as guarantees of divine favor apart from genuine faith and obedience to God. It confronts the pagan belief in amulets and charms, highlighting the unique nature of Israel's God, who cannot be contained or coerced.
• The incident foreshadows the destruction of Shiloh (referenced in Jer 7:12-14 and Psa 78:60), signifying God's willingness to abandon even His sacred dwelling place when His people thoroughly profane His name and dishonor His covenant. This emphasizes God's transcendence and sovereignty over physical locations and religious objects.
• This verse starkly contrasts with how the Ark functioned under true, Spirit-led leadership, such as under Joshua leading Israel into the Promised Land (Josh 3:1-17), underscoring that the Ark's efficacy was always dependent on God's active presence and the people's obedience.

1 Samuel 4 3 Commentary

1 Samuel 4:3 lays bare the spiritual bankruptcy of Israel's leadership at a critical juncture in their history. After a devastating military defeat, the elders correctly attributed their suffering to the Lord's "smiting" but then gravely misdiagnosed the reason for it. Instead of acknowledging the nation's rampant sin, idolatry, and priestly corruption, they reverted to a superstitious, magical understanding of God's presence. They believed that by simply bringing the physical Ark of the Covenant into their camp, they could force God's hand and guarantee victory. This act was not faith but superstition, viewing God as a controllable entity rather than a holy and sovereign Being who demands righteous living and true heart-worship. The Ark, designed to be a sacred symbol of God's dwelling and covenant faithfulness, was reduced to a talisman. This flawed strategy, rooted in a transactional approach to their relationship with Yahweh, set the stage for further calamity, demonstrating God's unwavering refusal to be treated as a cosmic force to be manipulated.