Bible Strands
1 Samuel 4:2
The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the opening clash at Ebenezer and Aphek as Israelite forces advance to confront the Philistine host. This account captures the immediate military outcome before the camp elders later demand an explanation for the loss.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּנָּ֥גֶף (va/i.yi.Na.gef) literally means "and it was struck down," denoting a decisive military rout. The phrase לִ/קְרַ֣את (li/k.Rat) conveys the Israelites moving out "to meet" the enemy in direct, organized confrontation.
The thread — This pattern of Israel suffering defeat before foreign armies appears in Joshua 7:5 and Joshua 7:12, where unaddressed covenant failure causes the nation to flee. The Lamentations 3:40 reference calls for self-examination and turning back to the LORD after such military and spiritual collapse.
Why it lands — The text records a concrete military loss that precedes a theological crisis, demanding that readers examine whether spiritual posture determines national outcome. It asks the reader to recognize that defeat often follows a failure to address underlying covenant failure before seeking external solutions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
- Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
- Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.
- 1 Samuel 17:8 And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.
- 1 Samuel 17:21 And Israel and the Philistines arrayed in formation against each other.
- Psalms 44:9 But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.
- Psalms 79:7 for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
- Psalms 106:40 So the anger of the LORD burned against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance.