1 Samuel 4 5

1 Samuel 4:5 kjv

And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

1 Samuel 4:5 nkjv

And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

1 Samuel 4:5 niv

When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

1 Samuel 4:5 esv

As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.

1 Samuel 4:5 nlt

When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 5 Meaning

When the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred symbol of God's presence and His covenant with Israel, was brought into the Israelite camp, the entire assembly responded with a thunderous acclamation. This great shout, powerful enough to metaphorically cause the earth to resound, expressed their overwhelming confidence and desperate hope that the physical presence of the Ark would guarantee divine intervention and military victory against the Philistines. However, this response reflects a misguided faith, viewing the Ark as a magical talisman rather than recognizing it as a symbol of the sovereign Lord who required their obedience and genuine devotion.

1 Samuel 4 5 Context

The context for 1 Samuel 4:5 is a dire military confrontation between Israel and the Philistines. Following an initial defeat in Ebenezer (1 Sam 4:1-2) which resulted in the death of four thousand Israelites, the elders of Israel decide, not to repent and seek the Lord, but to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh (1 Sam 4:3-4). Their intention is clearly stated: "let it save us from the hand of our enemies." This decision reflects a profound misunderstanding of God's character and covenant, reducing the Ark, a symbol of divine presence, into a superstitious charm or military asset. Verse 5 captures the dramatic immediate reaction of the entire army to the Ark's arrival, fueled by this misinformed hope, setting the stage for their even greater defeat and the capture of the Ark by the Philistines. Historically, this period marks a low point for Israel, characterized by spiritual decline, particularly among the priesthood under Eli and his sons, leading to the temporary removal of God's manifest presence from Shiloh.

1 Samuel 4 5 Word analysis

• When (כְּבֹ֨א - kĕ·vō) - Literally "as came." Indicates a precise point in time, linking the Ark's entry directly to the Israelite's immediate reaction. This establishes a clear cause-and-effect, highlighting the direct result of the elders' decision.
• the ark of the covenant of the LORD (אֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֜ה - ă·rō·wn bĕ·rîṯ YHWH) - This specific title emphasizes its unique theological significance. The Ark (אֲרוֹן - aron) was not merely a box, but represented God's throne, the "mercy seat," where God dwelt among His people. The phrase "of the covenant" (בְּרִית - berit) explicitly ties it to God's solemn promises and obligations with Israel, typically containing the tablets of the Law. "Of the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH) grounds it in the covenant relationship with the revealed, personal Name of Israel's God. While supremely holy, Israel here treats it as a pagan charm rather than revering the God it represents.
• came into the camp (אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶה֙ - ’el-ham·ma·ḥă·neh) - Physically brought from Shiloh to the battleground. This geographical shift symbolizes Israel's attempt to force God's hand, bringing Him to their strategic location instead of waiting on His lead. It signifies human initiative taking precedence over divine leading.
• all Israel (כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - kāl-yiś·rā·’êl) - Emphasizes the unanimous, collective response. This wasn't a fringe element, but the entire army and people united in this demonstration, showing a pervasive spiritual misconception.
• shouted (וַיָּרִ֧יעוּ - vayyari'u) - From the root ר.ו.ע (r.w.a'), in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to utter a loud sound," specifically a battle cry or a joyful acclamation. In this context, it is a sound of exultant expectation for victory, possibly also with religious fervor. However, its immediate cause is their trust in an object, not a sincere, humble outpouring to God Himself. It lacks the true spiritual reverence that usually accompanied such a "teruah."
• with a great shout (תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה - tĕru'ah gĕdōlāh) - Tĕru'ah refers to a loud noise, trumpet blast, battle cry, or joyful noise. Gĕdōlāh means "great" or "mighty." This redundancy ("shouted a great shout") intensely stresses the enormity, volume, and passion of their outcry. It implies a convulsive, collective outburst of high anticipation and strong emotional energy.
• so that the earth resounded (וַתֵּהֹ֥ם הָאָ֖רֶץ - wattēhom hā’āreṣ) - Literally "and the earth hummed/roared" or "was in commotion/quaked." A hyperbole depicting the immense sonic force and vibration of the shout. It visually and audibly amplifies the scale of Israel's collective emotional outpouring, signifying how deeply this action impacted the surrounding environment, mirroring their profound, albeit misplaced, belief in the Ark's efficacy.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp: This phrase highlights the misplaced focus of Israel. Instead of God being among them by faith and obedience, they rely on the physical proximity of a sacred object. It sets the scene for a test of God's sovereignty versus their presumption.
  • all Israel shouted with a great shout: The universal nature of the shout signifies a widespread misunderstanding of divine principles. It's a demonstration of mob mentality and collective human will attempting to command divine power, rather than humbly seeking it. This type of clamor could indicate a false awakening or a superficial religious display rather than a genuine move of God.
  • so that the earth resounded: This imagery not only describes the sound's intensity but also sets a tone of seismic significance, amplifying the perceived gravity of the moment for Israel. However, the subsequent events reveal that this impressive external display had no genuine spiritual foundation and brought no lasting divine favor. It shows the superficiality of their hope, as real spiritual power doesn't require such external, forced displays.

1 Samuel 4 5 Bonus section

• The dramatic shouting serves as an ironic contrast to the silence of God. Despite the earth-shaking clamor, God did not act in the way Israel presumed, emphasizing His sovereignty over human expectations and rituals.
• This scene parallels ancient Near Eastern beliefs where deities were carried into battle as protective idols or battle standards, highlighting Israel's regrettable assimilation of pagan practices rather than maintaining their unique covenant relationship.
• The reaction of the Philistines to the news of the Ark's arrival (1 Sam 4:6-7) indicates that even they, as pagan enemies, had a stronger, albeit fearful, appreciation of the God of Israel's historical power than Israel did of His holiness and requirements for His presence. They recalled the plagues of Egypt, while Israel, despite the visible Ark, seemed to have forgotten the basis of true divine intervention.

1 Samuel 4 5 Commentary

1 Samuel 4:5 presents a pivotal moment, capturing Israel's profound but misguided trust in the Ark of the Covenant as a literal force multiplier rather than a symbol of their covenant God. Their "great shout" was a demonstration of overwhelming hope rooted in superstition, believing the mere physical presence of the Ark would compel God to grant them victory. This external act of reverence, however grand and resonant, was a symptom of deeper spiritual decay. It reflected a formalism where the means (the Ark) became an end, obscuring the true Object of their worship—the Lord Himself. They sought salvation through a ritualistic object, ignoring their own sin and the lack of true repentance. This verse sets a crucial theological precedent, illustrating that God's power is not manipulated by human ceremony or artifacts, but flows from genuine faith, obedience, and repentance. Their spectacular shout, which literally shook the earth, ultimately fell silent in the face of their impending, devastating defeat, serving as a powerful warning against mistaking religious zeal for true devotion or object worship for a relationship with God.