Aphek Battle Beside Camped Ebenezer Eben-ezer Ebene'zer Encamp Encamped Fight Forces Israelites Meet Philistines Pitched Position Samuel Thus War
4:1 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.
4:1-9 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.
Aphek Battle Camped Ebenezer Eben-Ezer Ebene'zer Encamp Encamped Israel Israelites Meet Philistines Pitched Position Samuel Samuel's Time Together War Word
Aphek Battle Camped Ebenezer Eben-Ezer Ebene'zer Encamp Encamped Israel Israelites Meet Philistines Pitched Position Samuel Samuel's Time Together War Word
