Bible Strands
1 Samuel 4:5
When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the Israelite soldiers' reaction at the precise moment the ark of the covenant arrives at their camp for battle.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יָּרִ֥עוּ (va/i.ya.Ri.'u) literally means "they shouted" or "blew a war horn," describing the Israelites' massive vocal response.
The thread — This moment echoes the conquest of Jericho, where a mighty shout accompanied the ark's presence (Joshua 6:5; Joshua 6:20), and contrasts with the fleeting triumph of the wicked (Job 20:5).
Why it lands — The text states that the ground shook from the Israelites' own shout, not from divine intervention, requiring the reader to observe how ritual objects are mistaken for automatic guarantees of victory.
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 ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
Cross-references
- Joshua 6:5 And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.”
- Job 20:5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- Joshua 6:20 So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.
- Judges 15:14 When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.
- Jeremiah 7:4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
- Amos 6:3 You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence.
- Micah 2:11 If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!