Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 4:2
2The 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.
1 Samuel 4:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.
Context of 1 Samuel 4:2
1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 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. 3When 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.” 4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Read all of 1 Samuel 41 Samuel 4:2 word by word
וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּכּ֤וּ בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear
- The Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- arrayed themselvesעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
- againstקָרָאqârâ' · to encounter: towardH7122
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and as the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- spreadנָטַשׁnâţash · to leaveH5203
- was defeatedנָגַףnâgaph · to strikeH5062
- byפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- who struck downנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- about fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
- thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- on the battlefieldמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
- on the battlefieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:2
- 1 Samuel 17:8And 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.
- Joshua 7:5And 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.
- Psalms 44:9But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.
- Psalms 79:7for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
- Psalms 106:40So the anger of the LORD burned against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance.
- Lamentations 3:40Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Put themselves in array - There is no doubt that both the Philistines and Israelites had what might be called the art of war, according to which they marshalled their troops in the field, constructed their camps, and conducted their retreats, sieges, etc.; but we know not the principles on which they acted. They slew of the army in the field about four thousand men - This must have been a severe conflict, as four thousand were left dead on the field of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22The crisis with the ark of the covenant showed Israel needed Samuel's leadership. It also fulfilled prophecies about Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-111Sa 4:1-11. Israel Overcome by the Philistines. 1. the word of Samuel came to all Israel--The character of Samuel as a prophet was now fully established. The want of an "open vision" was supplied by him, for "none of his words were let fall to the ground" (1Sa 3:19); and to his residence in Shiloh all the people of Israel repaired to consult him as an oracle, who, as the medium of receiving the divine command, or by his gift of a prophet, could inform…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 4:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries