skip to content

1 Samuel 4

W
The Whosoever Study Bible
Whosoever will, may come.
the first book of samuel
Samuel (with Nathan and Gad contributing) · c. 1010 BC
Chapter the Fourth
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
HOW TO USE
PROVISIONIST · DISPENSATIONAL · PRE-TRIBULATIONAL

Chuck Smith on 1 Samuel 4

Verse by verse, the C2000 series. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
Verses 1-10 Chapter 4 Now in chapter four we find the Philistines had come against the Israelites and they met them in battle and defeated them. Four thousand of the men of Israel were slain. So the Philistines were getting ready to attack again, and the people said, "Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant into the camp in order that the Philistines cannot defeat us." Now they were beginning to look at the Ark of the Covenant as sort of an amulet, a good luck piece in a kind of a thing. "Well if the Ark of the Covenant is here, it will bring us good luck over the Philistines." Making it almost a fetish kind of a thing, bringing it into the camp. It was wrong, but they did it anyhow. When the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark of the covenant, all of the men began to shout and, [a big cheer went up, and a lot of shouting]. And the Philistines said, What's going on over there? And so when they found out that they had brought the ark of the covenant, the Philistines said, Oh that's not fair it never happened in battle that the people brought their gods into battle with them. These are the Gods that wiped out the Egyptians and the Amorites and all, what chance do we have ( 1 Samuel 4:4-8 ). The Philistines, it had a reverse effect actually, they said, "Men fight with everything you got or else you're gonna be their slaves. Even as they have been our slaves." It so inspired the Philistines that they attacked. They defeated the men of Israel, and they took the Ark of the Covenant back to their own city. They captured the Ark of the Covenant and took it back to their Philistine cities. So the two sons of Eli were slain in that battle. A young man came running to tell the news, and Eli was sitting in a chair by the road, and the young man came. And Eli said, What's the meaning of all this noise, the tumult? [Now Eli at this point was ninety-eight years old, his eyes were dim, he could barely see.] and this young fellow said, I came out of the camp of the army, and he said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and your two sons were killed, and the Ark of the Covenant was taken. When the old man heard that the Ark of the Covenant was taken, he fell over backwards, broke his neck [Because he was a very heavy man.] and he died: Now his daughter in law, the wife of Phinehas his son, at that time was expecting a child: when she heard that her husband had died, she went into labor pains. The women were standing around her to help her, and they said, Fear not for you have had a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. But she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God had been taken by their enemies ( 1 Samuel 4:11-22 ). Verses 11-22 Ichabod means "no glory", or "the glory is departed." So this child of course is stuck with this name Ichabod. She died in the birth of the child. "

Commentary on 1 Samuel 4

Whosoever Will · the Seven Threads Commentary

1 Samuel 4:1

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:2

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:3

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:4

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:5

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:6

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:7

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:8

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:9

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:10

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:11

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:12

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:13

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:14

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:15

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:16

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:17

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:18

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:19

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:20

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:21

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19

1 Samuel 4:22

Israel goes to war against the Philistines and loses badly, 4,000 dead. The elders decide to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking it will give them victory as it gave Joshua victory at Jericho. But the ark is not a talisman. It is the throne of the holy God who will not be manipulated into battle by those who have abandoned his covenant. The second battle is worse: 30,000 infantry dead, including Hophni and Phinehas. The ark is captured. When the messenger reaches Shiloh with the news, Eli falls backward from his seat and breaks his neck at ninety-eight. Phinehas's wife, in labor when the news arrives, gives birth and names the child Ichabod, no glory, saying the glory has departed from Israel. But the Philistines discover that keeping the ark is not the same as keeping YHWH. In Ashdod the statue of Dagon falls before the ark. Then falls again, this time with its head and hands broken off, leaving only the trunk, the posture of a helpless, armless god prostrating before the ark of Israel's God. Tumors break out across the city. The ark is moved city to city and disease follows. After seven months the Philistines send it back on a cart pulled by two milk cows, who head straight to Beth-shemesh without deviation, lowing as they go. Thread 2 is the ark itself, the throne of the covenant God, being treated as a military asset and failing, because the covenant community's relationship with the God who sits enthroned there has broken down. Thread 5 is the dispensational diagnosis: the Mosaic administration is failing not because the law is wrong but because the hearts of the people are unchanged.
Ichabod, the glory has departed. The ark of the covenant captured by the Philistines is the OT's first major Shekinah-crisis before Ezekiel; and the Philistines discover that you cannot keep the ark without the God who inhabits it.
גָלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (galah kavod mi-Yisrael): the glory has departed from Israel: galah kavod (the glory has gone into exile, galah is the exile word; the same verb used for the deportation of captive populations; the kavod has been exiled from Israel just as Israel will later be exiled from the land; Phinehas's wife names the child Ichabod, i-kavod, no glory, the glory is gone)
threads t2 · t5 · see 1 Samuel 6:1-16 · Psalm 78:60-61 · Ezekiel 10:18-19
study these verses in the reader