Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 4

Verse 1

Came . Compare Acts 3:24 .Hebrews 11:32 .

Eben-ezer = Stone of help. So called in anticipation of Samuel's victory twenty years later (1 Samuel 7:12 ).

Aphek = Fortress. Joshua 15:53 .

Verse 2

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 3

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

enemies . Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "enemy".

Verse 4

Shiloh . See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

the LORD of hosts . See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

God = Elohim. App-4 . Marking His relation to His creatures.

Verse 5

shouted . . . shout . Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . See note on Genesis 26:28 .

Verse 6

noise of the shout . Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 . Compare 1 Samuel 4:14 .

meaneth = is. Compare Matthew 9:13 ; Matthew 26:26 , Matthew 26:28 .

Verse 7

Woe unto us! Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ), repeated in 1 Samuel 4:8 .

Verse 8

who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the Gods = the Gods themselves.

Verse 9

quit yourselves like = the Hebrew verb hayah, to become; as "was "should be rendered in Genesis 1:2 .

men . Hebrew. 'ish or 'enosh. App-14 .

as = according as.

Verse 10

every man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 12

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 13

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

a = the.

God. Hebrew with Art. = the God. App-14 .

Verse 14

noise of this tumult. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

Verse 15

were dim = were set, as in 1 Kings 14:4 .

could not see . One of the nine cases of blindness. See note on Genesis 19:11 .

Verse 17

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in 1 Samuel 4:17 .

Verse 19

came = came suddenly.

Verse 20

about = at.

Verse 21

I-chabod = Where is the glory?

because of . Some codices add "the death of". Compare 1 Samuel 4:19 .