CONTENTS
This Chapter folds within its bosom heavy tidings for Israel in general, and Eli's house in particular. In a battle between the Philistines and Israel, the Israelites presumptuously, and without taking counsel of the Lord, bring the ark of God into the camp. The Philistines are again conquerors; they take the ark of God: the two sons of Eli, according to the Lord's declaration, are both slain. Tidings coming to Eli of those events, the old man falls from his seat, and dies; and his daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, in the premature labor of child-bed, dies also. Such are the woeful contents of this chapter.
(1) В¶ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
By the word of Samuel coming to all Israel, is meant, no doubt, to show that the Lord had commissioned him, as his servant, that whether the people would hear, or whether they would forbear, they should know that there was a prophet of the Lord among them. Ezekiel 2:5.