Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 4
Concise Complete
The Israelites overcome by the Philistines. (1-9) The
ark taken. (10,11) The death of Eli. (12-18) The birth of Ichabod. (19-22)
Verses 1-9 Israel
is smitten before the Philistines. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and
gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. They own the hand of
God in their trouble; but, instead of submitting, they speak angrily, as not
aware of any just provocation they had given him. The foolishness of man
perverts his way, and then his heart frets against the Lord, Pr 19:3, and finds
fault with him. They supposed that they could oblige God to appear for them, by
bringing the ark into their camp. Those who have gone back in the life of
religion, sometimes discover great fondness for the outward observances of it,
as if those would save them; and as if the ark, God's throne, in the camp, would
bring them to heaven, though the world and the flesh are on the throne in the
heart.
Verses 10-11
The taking of the ark was a great judgment upon Israel, and a certain token of
God's displeasure. Let none think to shelter themselves from the wrath of God,
under the cloak of outward profession.
Verses 12-18
The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tidings of the
death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, and who, as he had
reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as a father; yet there was a
greater concern on his spirit. And when the messenger concluded his story with, "The ark of God is taken," he is struck to the heart, and died immediately. A
man may die miserably, yet not die eternally; may come to an untimely end, yet
the end be peace.
Verses 19-22
The wife of Phinehas seems to have been a person of piety. Her dying regret was
for the loss of the ark, and the departure of the glory from Israel. What is any
earthly joy to her that feels herself dying? No joy but that which is spiritual
and divine, will stand in any stead then; death is too serious a thing to admit
the relish of any earthly joy. What is it to one that is lamenting the loss of
the ark? What pleasure can we take in our creature comforts and enjoyments, if
we want God's word and ordinances; especially if we want the comfort of his
gracious presence, and the light of his countenance? If God go, the glory goes,
and all good goes. Woe unto us if he depart! But though the glory is withdrawn
from one sinful nation, city, or village after another, yet it shall never
depart altogether, but shines forth in one place when eclipsed in another.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
