1 - 11 The Philistines Capture the ArkIsreal goes to battle against the Philistines. Israel is defeated, losing 4,000 men. The elders of Israel decide to take the ark of the covenant before them. While the ark rouses the troops and strikes fear in the Philistines, Israel is defeated, losing 30,000 troops, including Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The Philistines capture the ark.
12 - 22 The Death of Eli
A man of Benjamin runs to tell Eli, now 98. He falls from his stoop and breaks his neck. When Phineas' pregnant wife hears the news, she goes into labor and names her son Ichabod, which means "The glory has departed from Israel."
2 comments:
notes - This battle took place near Aphek which is 12 miles east of the coastal city, Joppa. Philistine presence this far north suggests an attemp to spread their control over the Israelite tribes of central Canaan.
The Israelites were correct in thnking there was a connections between God's presence with his people and the ark and they remembered past victories where the ark was present. BUT they incorrectly believed that the Lord's presence with the ark was guaranteed, rather than being subject to His free decision. They reflect the pagan notion that the deity is identified with the symbol of his presence, and that God's favor could automatically be gained by manipulating the symbol.
I believe this is like people who wear crosses today. Some beleive that, no matter how they behave, God is with them and forgives them if they're wearing a cross.
THE POINT - It's a shame that an entire people were punished for the sins of it's leaders, but here it is. Eli's sons should have prevented the use of the ark and set the people straight regarding the discussion above, but they didn't. Since they didn't know God, they blindly went along with the people. God had predicted their death and this battle was the event.
The capture of the ark fulfills 3:11 where the Lord said to Samuel, "I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle."
13 Eli feared for the ark. Although he "let down the nation" Eli knew the significance of the ark and how sinful and presumptious it was for his sons to take it; but, as always, he let his boys "get away with murder" and all was destroyed. He seems to be more concerned with the loss of the ark than his sons (which is right).
notes - The death of Eli marked the end of an era that had begun with the death of Joshus and the elders who server with him. Eli is included among the judges.
21 "the glory has departed" Ichabod's mother is of the same frame of mind as all the rest that she incorrectly thinks God has abandoned them because the ark is gone (at least the Nazi's didn't get it).
Good point about the crosses. My notes say the same thing about Eli's death being the end of the era of the judges.
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