1 Samuel 4:2

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 Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. 3When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.” 4So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

1 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
• drewעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
• array to meetקָרָאqârâ' · to encounter: towardH7122
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• When the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• spreadנָטַשׁnâţash · to leaveH5203
• defeatedנָגַףnâgaph · to strikeH5062
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• who killedנָכָהnâkâh · 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 17:8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.
• Joshua 7:5The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
• Psalms 44:9Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies.
• Psalms 79:7For they have devoured Jacob And laid waste his habitation.
• Psalms 106:40Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against His people And He abhorred His inheritance.
• Lamentations 3:40Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return 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

• Aphek
• Israel

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Philistines
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Four Thousand
• Glory
• Mean
• Pain
• Samuel
• Tabernacle

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