1 Samuel 4:13

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 he came {H935}, lo, Eli {H5941} sat {H3427} upon a seat {H3678} by the wayside {H1870}{H3027}{H3197} watching {H6822}: for his heart {H3820} trembled {H2730} for the ark {H727} of God {H430}. And when the man {H376} came {H935} into the city {H5892}, and told {H5046} it, all the city {H5892} cried out {H2199}.

As he arrived, 'Eli was sitting on his seat by the road, watching; because he was trembling with anxiety over the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city began crying out.

When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon his 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.

Commentary

1 Samuel 4:13 vividly captures a moment of intense anxiety and impending doom for Eli, the high priest of Israel, as he awaits news from a critical battle against the Philistines. This verse sets the stage for one of the most tragic events in Israel's early history under the judges.

Context

The narrative in 1 Samuel 4 describes a significant conflict between the Israelites and their perennial enemies, the Philistines. After an initial defeat, the elders of Israel made the fateful decision to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield, believing its presence would guarantee victory. This act, however, was born more of superstition than genuine faith, as it disregarded God's commands and the spiritual corruption rampant among the priesthood, specifically Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas.

Eli, an aged and nearly blind priest, was sitting by the wayside, a common place for public gathering and news dissemination. His physical posture reflects his spiritual and emotional state: he is waiting, passive, and consumed by a profound inner dread. His "heart trembled for the ark of God," indicating his deep concern was not primarily for the lives of his sons or the soldiers, but for the sacred symbol of God's presence, which had been rashly taken into battle. The arrival of the messenger from the battlefront, and the subsequent "cry" from the entire city, foreshadow the devastating news about to be delivered.

Key Themes

  • Profound Anxiety and Dread: Eli's trembling heart highlights the immense spiritual weight he felt concerning the Ark. This was not merely fear for a national defeat, but a premonition of divine judgment and the loss of God's manifest presence.
  • The Ark's Centrality: The verse underscores the Ark's immense significance to Israel, not just as a religious artifact, but as the symbol of God's covenant with His people and His dwelling among them. Its fate was inextricably linked to Israel's spiritual health.
  • Impending Judgment: Eli's deep concern stemmed from earlier divine warnings about his house, particularly his failure to restrain his sons, as prophesied in 1 Samuel 3:13. His trembling heart is a palpable manifestation of the fulfillment of those prophecies.
  • Collective Despair: The immediate, unified "cried out" from the city upon hearing the news reveals the magnitude of the catastrophe. It was a national lament, signifying a profound loss far beyond a military defeat.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "his heart trembled" uses the Hebrew word chared (חרד), which conveys a strong sense of dread, alarm, or profound agitation. It's not a slight tremor but a deep, visceral fear that grips the entire being. This emphasizes the intensity of Eli's apprehension, particularly for the Ark's safety and what its capture would signify for Israel's relationship with God.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 4:13 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Reverence for God's Presence: It highlights the critical importance of treating sacred things with reverence and not presuming upon God's favor, especially when there is unaddressed sin. The Israelites treated the Ark as a magic charm, forgetting the holiness of the God it represented.
  • Consequences of Negligence: Eli's personal anguish is tied to his failure to discipline his sons, illustrating the severe consequences of neglecting spiritual responsibility, especially in leadership roles. Leaders are accountable for the spiritual well-being of those under their charge.
  • The Weight of Spiritual Loss: The city's outcry demonstrates that the loss of God's manifest presence or blessing is a far greater tragedy than any material or military defeat. True national and individual well-being is rooted in a right relationship with God.

This verse underscores the profound spiritual crisis facing Israel, where the external symbol of God's presence was valued more than the internal purity and obedience required by His covenant.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 1:9 (5 votes)

    ¶ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 4:18 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Psalms 79:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

  • Psalms 79:8 (2 votes)

    O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

  • Psalms 137:4 (2 votes)

    How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

  • Psalms 137:6 (2 votes)

    If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

  • Joshua 7:9 (2 votes)

    For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear [of it], and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?