Bible Strands
1 Samuel 4:3
When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The elders of Israel address the returning troops at the camp immediately after a Philistine victory that killed four thousand men. They propose retrieving the ark from Shiloh to secure military deliverance.
The words — The term זִקְנֵי (zik.Nei) denotes the "elders," while לָ/מָּה (La./mah) literally means "why?" as they question the LORD’s decision to bring defeat.
The thread — This reliance on an object parallels the warning in 2 Timothy 3:5 about possessing a form of godliness while denying its power, and contrasts with the ark’s intended function as a marker of God’s presence in Numbers 10:35.
Why it lands — The text records the elders treating the ark as a tactical guarantee rather than submitting to the LORD’s sovereign will. Readers must confront whether they seek God’s power or merely His symbols.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
- Numbers 10:35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
- Numbers 10:33 So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.
- Numbers 31:6 And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
- Deuteronomy 29:24 So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’
- Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.
- Joshua 4:7 you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”
- Joshua 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.
- Joshua 7:7 “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!