New King James Version
1 Samuel 4:2
2Then 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.
Context of 1 Samuel 4:2
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 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. 3And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwells 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- put themselves in arrayעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
- againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and when they joinedנָטַשׁnâţash · to leaveH5203
- battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- was smittenנָגַףnâgaph · to strikeH5062
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- and they slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- of the armyמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
- in the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- about fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
- thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:2
- 1 Samuel 17:8Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
- Joshua 7:5And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
- Psalms 44:9But You have cast us off and put us to shame, And You do not go out with our armies.
- Psalms 79:7For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place.
- Psalms 106:40Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.
- Lamentations 3:40Let us search out and examine 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries