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
Israel smitten by the Philistines, ver. 1, 2. They bring the ark
into the camp, which affrights the Philistines, ver. 3-9. Israel
beaten and the ark taken, ver. 10, 11. The news brought to Shiloh
and the death of Eli, ver. 12-18. The travail and death of his
daughter-in-law, 19-22.
Verse 1. The word - That is, the word of the Lord revealed to Samuel,
and by him to the people. A word of command, that all Israel
should go forth to fight with the Philistines, as the following
words explain it, that they might he first humbled and punished
for their sins, and so prepared for deliverance. Went out - To meet
the Philistines, who having by this time recruited themselves after
their loss by Samson, and perceiving an eminent prophet arising
among them, by whom they were likely to be united, and assisted,
thought fit to suppress them in the beginning of their hopes.
Verse 3. Wherefore, &c. - This was strange blindness, that when there
was so great a corruption in their worship and manners, they
could not see sufficient reason why God should suffer them to fall
by their enemies. The ark - That great pledge of God's presence
and help, by whose conduct our ancestors obtained success.
Instead of humbling themselves for, and purging themselves from
their sins, for which God was displeased with them, they take an
easier and cheaper course, and put their trust in their ceremonial
observances, not doubting but the very presence of the ark would
give them the victory.
Verse 4. Bring the ark - This they should not have done without asking
counsel of God.
Verse 5. Shouted - From their great joy and confidence of success. So
formal Christians triumph in external privileges and
performances: as if the ark in the camp would bring them to
heaven, tho' the world and the flesh reign in the heart.
Verse 7. Heretofore - Not in our times; for the fore-mentioned removals
of the ark were before it came to Shiloh.
Verse 8. Wo, &c. - They secretly confess the Lord to be greater than
their gods, and yet presume to oppose him. Wilderness - They
mention the wilderness, not as if all the plagues of the Egyptians
came upon them in the wilderness, but because the last and sorest
of all, which is therefore put for all, the destruction of Pharaoh
and all his host, happened in the wilderness, namely, in the Red-
sea, which having the wilderness on both sides of it, may well be
said to be in the wilderness. Altho' it is not strange if these
Heathens did mistake some circumstance in relation of the
Israelitish affairs, especially some hundreds of years after they
were done.
Verse 10. Tent - To his habitation, called by the ancient name of his tent.
There fell - Before, they lost but four thousand, now in the
presence of the ark, thirty thousand, to teach them that the ark and
ordinances of God, were never designed as a refuge to impenitent
sinners, but only for the comfort of those that repent.
Verse 11. The ark - Which God justly and wisely permitted, to punish
the Israelites for their profanation of it; that by taking away the
pretenses of their foolish confidence, he might more deeply
humble them, and bring them to true-repentance: and that the
Philistines might by this means he more effectually convinced of
God's almighty power, and of their own, and the impotency of
their gods, and so a stop put to their triumphs and rage against the
poor Israelites. Thus as God was no loser by this event, so the
Philistines were no gainers by it; and Israel, all things considered,
received more good than hurt by it. If Eli had done his duty, and
put them from the priesthood, they might have lived, tho' in
disgrace. But now God takes the work into his own hands, and
chases them out of the world by the sword of the Philistines.
Verse 13. The ark - Whereby he discovered a public and generous spirit,
and a fervent zeal for God, and for his honour, which he preferred
before all his natural affections, not regarding his own children in
comparison of the ark, tho' otherwise he was a most indulgent
father. And well they might, for beside that this was a calamity to
all Israel, it was a particular loss to Shiloh; for the ark never
returned thither. Their candlestick was removed out of its place,
and the city sunk and came to nothing.
Verse 18. He fell - Being so oppressed with grief and astonishment, that
he had no strength left to support him. The gate - The gate of the
city, which was most convenient for the speedy understanding of
all occurrences. Old - Old, and therefore weak and apt to fall;
heavy, and therefore his fall more dangerous. So fell the high-
priest and judge of Israel! So fell his heavy head, when he had
lived within two of an hundred years! So fell the crown from his
head, when he had judged Israel forty years: thus did his sun set
under a cloud. Thus was the wickedness of those sons of his,
whom he had indulged, his ruin. Thus does God sometimes set
marks of his displeasure on good men, that others may hear and
fear. Yet we must observe, it was the loss of the ark that was his
death, and not the slaughter of his sons. He says in effect, Let me
fall with the ark! Who can live, when the ordinances of God are
removed? Farewell all in this world, even Life itself, if the ark be
gone!
Verse 20. Fear not - Indeed the sorrows of her travail would have been
forgotten, for joy that a child was born into the world. But what is
that joy to one that feels herself dying? None but spiritual joy will
stand us in stead then. Death admits not the relish of any earthly
joy: it is then all flat and tasteless. What is it to one that is
lamenting the loss of the ark? What can give us pleasure, if we
want God's word and ordinances? Especially if we want the
comfort of his gracious presence, and the light of his
countenance?
Verse 21. I-chabod - Where is the glory? The glory - That is, the
glorious type and assurance of God's presence, the ark, which is
often called God's glory, and which wast the great safeguard and
ornament of Israel, which they could glory in above all other
nations.
Verse 22. The ark - This is repeated to shew, her piety, and that the
public loss lay heavier upon her spirit, than her personal or
domestic calamity.
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
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
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Ruth
1 Samuel
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Ezra
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Esther
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Titus
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Jude
Revelation
