1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:1

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.

1 Samuel 4:2

men. Hebrew. ’ish. App-14.

1 Samuel 4:3

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

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

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

1 Samuel 4:4

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.

1 Samuel 4:5

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

1 Samuel 4:6

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.

1 Samuel 4:7

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

1 Samuel 4:8

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

the Gods = the Gods themselves.

1 Samuel 4:9

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.

1 Samuel 4:10

every man. Hebrew. ’ish. App-14.

1 Samuel 4:12

man. Hebrew. ’ish. App-14.

1 Samuel 4:13

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

a = the.

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

1 Samuel 4:14

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

1 Samuel 4:15

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.

1 Samuel 4:17

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

1 Samuel 4:19

came = came suddenly.

1 Samuel 4:20

about = at.

1 Samuel 4:21

I-chabod = Where is the glory?

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