Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to-day— The Israelites seem not only to have undertaken this war without consulting God, but to have vainly thought that, as being His people, they must necessarily be crowned with success; and in this vain confidence, they send for the ark of the covenant; not considering, that there could be little hope of God's assistance while they lived in notorious disobedience to his laws.
Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 4:3
1 Samuel 4:3
3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetchb the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.