{"id":56981,"date":"2018-07-09T17:43:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-236\/"},"modified":"2023-01-01T15:25:40","modified_gmt":"2023-01-01T13:25:40","slug":"wall-236","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-236\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-I Samuel-4"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"236","date":"20260726","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"56990","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"I Samuel Chapter 4 - Read by Michael Bernstein ","post_title":"I Samuel Chapter 4 - Read by Michael Bernstein","slug":"i-samuel-chapter-4-read-by-michael-bernstein","old_id":"56990","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"I Samuel 4","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"read by Michael Bernstein","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_I_Samuel_Chapter_4_read_by_Michael_Bernstein","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"110795","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Dark Days Ahead ","post_title":"Dark Days Ahead","slug":"dark-days-ahead","old_id":"110795","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A true prophet is in their midst - but the people do not consult him\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

(3:21) And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh: the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh with the word of the LORD; (4:1) and Samuel\u2019s word went forth to all Israel. Israel marched out to engage the Philistines in battle; they encamped near Eben-ezer, while the Philistines encamped at Aphek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is the connection between these two verses? The chapter break is after \u201cthe word of the Lord,\u201d but should the break be after \u201call of Israel\u201d? Rashi explains that \u201cand Samuel\u2019s word went forth to all of Israel\u201d means that Samuel\u2019s prophecy about the dark days ahead for the nation and Eli came true throughout Israel. This was accomplished by Israel marching to engage the Philistines. Basically, Samuel did not instruct them to fight in the battle. Instead the battle was the fulfillment of his prophecy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak is more direct. Samuel directed the people to go to battle because this would be the way that God's word would come true. This interpretation is dark with the implication that Samuel sent the nation into a battle that was doomed from the start. Abarbanel disagrees with Radak. If Samuel sent them to this battle they would think he was a false prophet! Abarbanel agrees with Rashi\u2019s interpretation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to Ralbag, these two verses are meant to show a contrast. Samuel\u2019s prophetic prowess was well known in all of Israel, and yet, the nation went to war without asking him. The utter disregard for the word of God is what led to defeat in battle and the capture of the Ark. Ralbag\u2019s juxtaposition works with the rest of the chapter as well. Samuel is not mentioned again. The people themselves control the events. They decide on their own to bring the Ark into battle. They collect it from the Mishkan where Eli and Samuel are located and yet they do not ask if they should.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":59142,"alt":"","title":"isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","width":399,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-249x300.jpg","medium-width":249,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","medium_large-width":399,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","large-width":399,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","1536x1536-width":399,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","2048x2048-width":399,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","post_full_size-width":399,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-349x420.jpg","home_baner-width":349,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Dark Days Ahead","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A true prophet is in their midst - but the people do not consult him","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":59142,"alt":"","title":"isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","width":399,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-249x300.jpg","medium-width":249,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","medium_large-width":399,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","large-width":399,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","1536x1536-width":399,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","2048x2048-width":399,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon.jpg","post_full_size-width":399,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/isam28-samuel_ben_hofni_gaon-349x420.jpg","home_baner-width":349,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"}]},{"order":3,"id":"110797","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Human Responsibility - And God\u2019s ","post_title":"Human Responsibility - And God\u2019s","slug":"human-responsibility-and-gods","old_id":"110797","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Does believing in divine intervention take some of the painful edge off?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

I Samuel 4 describes how the Ark was tragically captured by the Philistines. Eli had been told (I Samuel 2:27 ff.) that because he hadn\u2019t rebuked his children when they acted inappropriately, God would cause his two sons to die prematurely. Eli is informed that the Ark has been taken and his two sons slain (4:17), which in turn led directly to his death (4:18).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Since it had been Hophni and Phineas, Eli\u2019s two sons, who had rashly made the decision to take the Ark into battle in the first place 4:4,) it was deemed appropriate that as a result, the Ark, as well as the sons, would be lost. However, God\u2019s orchestration was not evident.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Eli attempted to rein in his sons when reports reached him that they were exploiting their positions of authority (2:22-5.) That they paid no attention to their father\u2019s directives is explained as due to God\u2019s influence, \u201c\u2026for the L<\/span>ORD<\/span> was resolved that they should die\u201d (verse 25). This implies that otherwise they would or could have improved their behavior. Apparently, they were not given the same leeway as others, similar to the situations of Pharaoh (Ex. 4:21,) Sichon (Deut. 2:30,) and Ahithophel (II Sam. 17:14.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s involvement also suggests that all the events described in this chapter, i.e., the first loss to the Philistines (v. 2), the decision of the elders to take the Ark for the next battle, personally provided by Eli\u2019s sons (vs. 3-4), and the defeat of Israel\u2019s soldiers the second time with 30,000 casualties (v. 10), culminating in the loss of the Ark and the deaths of Hophni and Phineas, had all been orchestrated by God in an elaborate \u201cChad Gad Ya\u201d scenario, divinely decided upon in Ch. 2!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The vignette at the end of I Samuel 4, describing the death of Phinehas\u2019 wife in childbirth (19-22) brought on by the series of tragic events, inevitably calls to mind the death of Rachel (Gen. 35:16-9) who died giving birth to Benjamin. Both women are reassured by those assisting them that they had given birth to a boy, and both imparted a name associated with sadness and travail: <\/span>Ben-Oni <\/span><\/i>(\u201cthe son of my affliction\u201d) and <\/span>I-Kavod<\/span><\/i> (\u201cnon-honor\u201d). While all the things that happened to Phineas\u2019 wife were more devastating\u2014the capture of the Ark combined with the deaths of her husband and father-in-law\u2014both mothers subjected themselves to greater risks when it came to pregnancy than did the fathers. Perhaps understanding that God is responsible for tragedy takes the horrific edge off, however slightly.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":93908,"alt":"","title":"job9-foot punishment","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Human Responsibility - And God\u2019s","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Does believing in divine intervention take some of the painful edge off?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":93908,"alt":"","title":"job9-foot punishment","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"370","name":"Divine\/human","old_id":"770"},{"term_id":"412","name":"Responsibility","old_id":"812"},{"term_id":"547","name":"Punishment","old_id":"947"}]},{"order":4,"id":"57027","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Dangers Of Trying To Manipulate Holiness ","post_title":"The Dangers Of Trying To Manipulate Holiness","slug":"the-dangers-of-trying-to-manipulate-holiness","old_id":"57027","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Ark as talisman, and the lesson of little baby Ichabod","post_main_content_content":"

At the end of Samuel 4, baby Ichabod survives his mother\u2019s death. At the beginning of the same chapter, Eli\u2019s sons seem to assume that the power of the Ark of the Covenant can survive the death of the relationship that birthed it, namely, the covenant between God and Israel. The very men who abused their position so cynically in the previous chapters, and violated God\u2019s laws in His own house, carry His Ark to the field of battle, hoping it will bring them victory.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the Ark is not a baby: it is God\u2019s tool. It can\u2019t boast of an immanent source of life or power. It is only as effective as God wills it to be; when Eli\u2019s sons try to use despite their many sins, they learn very quickly just how useless the Ark is without God\u2019s active help.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The narrative emphasizes this point through the story of Ichabod\u2019s birth. At first glance, this story seems unnecessary. What does it contribute to our understanding of the book\u2019s events? But by framing it in eerily familiar terms, the storyteller draws our attention to the paganism that warped the Israelites\u2019 perception of the Ark. For Ichabod\u2019s mother is not the first biblical woman whose attendants say \u201cDo not be afraid, for you have borne a son\u201d (1 Samuel 4:20). Neither is she the first to name her son for a tragedy as she lies dying. The matriarch Rachel preceded her on both counts, and on another: both died because someone moved a significant object from its original place. Having stolen her father\u2019s household idols, Rachel was unintentionally cursed by Jacob, who told Laban \u201canyone with whom you find your gods shall not remain alive!\u201d(Genesis 31:32) Rachel paid the price on her deathbed, just as Ichabod\u2019s mother pays the price for her family\u2019s decision to take the Ark into battle. These parallels force us to compare God\u2019s Ark to pagan idols, or more accurately \u2013 compare the way the Ark was perceived to the way people viewed idols. By relying on the Ark without obeying the God that gave it power Eli\u2019s sons reduced the Ark to an idolatrous, magical, and ultimately ineffectual, talisman. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

By drawing our attention to this strand of magical thinking, the text is offering a very timely warning. The Israelites will soon request a king. But a king as such won\u2019t be able to protect them: like the Ark, a king will only be as effective as God will choose to make him. Our chapter hints at what Samuel will later say explicitly: follow the covenant, or your king will fail just as the Ark did.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: <\/span>Carrying the Ark of the Covenant: gilded bas-relief at Auch Cathedral \/ 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California.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56961,"alt":"","title":"eric 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the external situation finally matches the internal reality","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter depicts Israel going to war against the Philistines, and enduring national tragedies upon its defeat. Israel lost thirty-four thousand fighting men \u2013 sons, fathers, and brothers, who represented the potential of their generation. Israel lost the heirs to the priesthood, and the High Priest himself, the men who served as ritual intermediaries between God and the people. And Israel lost the Ark of the Covenant, that labor of love from the desert wanderings that signified the covenant between God and Israel, that symbolized God as <\/span>Adonai Tzva\u2019ot<\/span><\/em> \u2013God of Hosts who fights for Israel. That day, our ancestors might easily have concluded that our God was defeated on the field of battle.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And yet, this defeat did not occur in a vacuum. A common trope depicted throughout Judges, Samuel, and Kings suggests that national disaster reflects the disastrous nature of Israel\u2019s moral character. In comment to our story, the Ralbag hints at this moral decline when he comments (1 Sam 4:1) that Israel failed to follow procedure by consulting the Urim and Thumim before marching to war, suggesting that their failure to consult God before war led to God\u2019s withdrawal of favor and subsequent defeat. But we know that this failure was just a symptom of a larger problem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first three chapters of 1 Samuel introduce the state of the world in which he serves. As with the Israelite leaders who preceded him, Samuel began his mission during a time of moral decay. Chapter 2 describes Hophni and Phinehas, the High Priest\u2019s sons, as thugs, with Eli their father as little able or willing to curb their extortion and bullying. When access to the Holy One of Blessing is mediated by leaders who abuse their position and enrich themselves, then how much holiness and Divine presence was there in Israel to begin with?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This backdrop of priestly corruption and moral malaise, which reflected upon the deficient moral character of Israel as a whole, finally manifested itself in national tragedy. The external situation finally matched the internal reality.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":57050,"alt":"","title":"isam4-inout","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","width":1920,"height":1027,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-300x160.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":160,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-768x411.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":411,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-1024x548.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":548,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":822,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1027,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-1200x642.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":642,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-785x420.jpg","home_baner-width":785,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"National Tragedy and Moral Malaise","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When the external situation finally matches the internal reality","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":57050,"alt":"","title":"isam4-inout","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","width":1920,"height":1027,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-300x160.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":160,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-768x411.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":411,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-1024x548.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":548,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":822,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1027,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-1200x642.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":642,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam4-inout-785x420.jpg","home_baner-width":785,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"436","name":"Morality","old_id":"836"},{"term_id":"480","name":"Holiness","old_id":"880"},{"term_id":"884","name":"Corruption","old_id":"1284"}]},{"order":6,"id":"56646","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Now Israel Went Out Against The Philistines ","post_title":"Now Israel Went Out Against The Philistines","slug":"now-israel-went-out-against-the-philistines","old_id":"56646","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56634,"post_title":"Michal Nachmany","slug":"michal-nachmany","old_id":"56634","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Nachmany ","description":"Michal Nachmany (b. 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Mixed-media work by Michal Nachmany, courtesy of the artist<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56647,"alt":"","title":"i sam 4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","width":927,"height":668,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-300x216.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":216,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-768x553.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":553,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","large-width":927,"large-height":668,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","1536x1536-width":927,"1536x1536-height":668,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","2048x2048-width":927,"2048x2048-height":668,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","post_full_size-width":927,"post_full_size-height":668,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-583x420.jpg","home_baner-width":583,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Sam 4:1","tile_main_caption":"Now Israel Went Out Against The Philistines ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"They pitched by Even Haezer: and the Philistines pitched in Afek","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56647,"alt":"","title":"i sam 4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","width":927,"height":668,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-300x216.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":216,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-768x553.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":553,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","large-width":927,"large-height":668,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","1536x1536-width":927,"1536x1536-height":668,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","2048x2048-width":927,"2048x2048-height":668,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4.jpg","post_full_size-width":927,"post_full_size-height":668,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/i-sam-4-583x420.jpg","home_baner-width":583,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":7,"id":"57033","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Was Their Life In Tents? ","post_title":"Was Their Life In Tents?","slug":"was-their-life-in-tents","old_id":"57033","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56490,"post_title":"Gary Rendsburg","slug":"gary-rendsburg","old_id":"56490","first_name":"Gary ","last_name":"Rendsburg ","description":"Gary Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. His teaching and research focus on \u2018all things ancient Israel\u2019 \u2013 primarily language and literature, though also history and archaeology. His secondary interests include post-biblical Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the medieval Hebrew manuscript tradition. 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Scholars refer to 1 Samuel, chs. 4-6, as the Ark Narrative, for in it the Ark of the Covenant plays center stage: \u00a0first it is captured by the Philistines (ch. 4), then it resides within various Philistine temples (ch. 5), and finally the Philistines return the Ark to the Israelites (ch. 6). \u00a0Remarkably, Samuel, who has played such a central role in chs. 1\u20133 is totally absent from chs. 4\u20136 (save for the sole mention at 4:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When the Israelites are routed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:10), the text states\u200e <\/span>vayanusu \u02beish le-\u02beohalav\u00a0<\/span><\/em>\u2018<\/em>and each man fled to his tents\u2019. \u00a0Now, the setting of First Samuel is during the latter part of the Iron Age I period, when the vast majority of Israelites lived in stone houses, as revealed through archaeological fieldwork \u2013 and yet the text still speaks of tents. \u00a0In fact, parallel phrases occur elsewhere: Judges 20:8; 1 Samuel 13:2; 2 Samuel 18:17, 19:9, 20:1, 22; 2 Kings 8:21, 14:12, pointing to the use of the expression as an ancient Hebrew idiom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The use of the word \u201ctents,\u201d accordingly, speaks to an earlier time in Israelite society, when the Israelites were indeed tent-dwellers. \u00a0This usage, relevant to the history of the Hebrew language, speaks volumes, for it demonstrates that latter-day (that is, immediately pre-monarchic and monarchic-period) Judahites and Israelites were descended from people who once lived in tents \u2013 that is to say, pastoral semi-nomads on the desert fringe. \u00a0This demonstrates that the Bible\u2019s core narrative, of a people with desert (or desert fringe) origins is essentially a historically accurate one. Those scholars who believe that Israelite origins are to be found amongst the urban Canaanites totally ignore this key data point. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

For an English analogy, note how the word \u201chorse\u201d reverberates in English expressions, such as \u201chold your horses,\u201d \u201cstop horsing around,\u201d \u201cget off your high horse,\u201d \u201ca dark-horse candidate,\u201d \u201cdon\u2019t beat a dead horse,\u201d etc. \u00a0These and other expressions indicate that horses were once part of the daily life of English speakers \u2013 which was true, of course, until c. 1900 \u2013 even if nowadays most people rarely encounter the beautiful animals. In like fashion, Hebrew speakers of the Iron Age I period and later were descended from people who lived in tents, even if they themselves had transitioned to a different life style.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As to the use of the plural form in the phrase \u201ceach man to his tents,\u201d most likely this refers to a family unit centered around several tents, with the <\/span>paterfamilias <\/span><\/i>in the main tent, his primary wife in another tent, perhaps a secondary wife in another tent, and other more extended family members, including servants, in others. \u00a0See Genesis 31:33 for the <\/span>locus classicus<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>This lifestyle is known amongst the B<\/span>edouin until the present day. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Blumenthal and filmed by Ardon Bar-Hama)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/QpEWXJV7TJo","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":9,"id":"57030","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Saving The Worst For Last ","post_title":"Saving The Worst For Last","slug":"saving-the-worst-for-last","old_id":"57030","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Losses national and personal","post_main_content_content":"

In this chapter, we learn of the fateful battle with the Philistines at Aphek that ended with the routing of the Israelite army, the deaths of thirty thousand Israelite soldiers\u2014including the two sons of Eli, Hofni and Phineas\u2014and the capture of the divine Ark (10-11).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you look carefully, you will notice that the order in which these results are arranged is similar\u2014but not identical in all respects\u2014to two other reports that appear in this chapter. The survivor of the debacle first reported to Eli that \u201cIsrael has been routed before the Philistines, suffered a grievous plague, your two sons, Hofni and Phineas, have died, and the divine Ark was taken\u201d (17). According to the Scriptural narrative, it was only upon hearing of the fate of the Ark that Eli fell off his chair and died, suggesting that the reporter had (compassionately?) left the worst news for last and implying that Eli was affected more by its capture than by the news of his personal loss. [Note, too, the substitution of the euphemistic \u201csuffered a grievous plague\u201d for the actual accounting of KIAs (killed in action)].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When the news is subsequently relayed to Phineas\u2019s pregnant wife, with the additional notice of the death of Eli, the sequence changed: \u201cWhen she heard the news that the divine Ark was captured, that her father-in-law had died, and so did her husband\u201d (19), she went into premature labor and died in childbirth. Eli\u2019s loss was more national and spiritual; hers was acutely more personal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Death of Eli<\/em>, 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Unlike humans who can repent, sometimes institutions are broken beyond repair","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cEven until his dying day You wait for him. If he repents, You immediately accept him.\u201d On Yom Kippur we affirm one of Judaism\u2019s most important ideas: Teshuvah. One can repent for his or her past misdeeds, errors, and indiscretions, and God will accept the confession and remorse.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our chapter teaches that institutions are not given the same latitude. Sometimes institutions are so broken, that they can\u2019t be fixed. It doesn\u2019t matter if a new charismatic CEO is waiting in the wings. It doesn\u2019t matter if a new department of ethics will be involved in all processes and decisions going forward. Sometimes institutions, like the tabernacle in Shiloh must be destroyed to further its intended message.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our chapter details every aspect of the destruction:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Eli the High Priest who can\u2019t distinguish between the saintly and the scoundrel, between the devout and the drunk falls backwards to his death.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Israel is routed: Thirty thousand Israelite soldiers are killed in battle by the Philistines<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Hophni and Phineas: The two wicked sons who abused their power die at the battlefield.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The Ark is Lost: The Jews relationship with the Divine is broken, and they don\u2019t have the right to house the presence of God in their midst.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Phineas\u2019 wife dies in childbirth: All remnants of the leadership structure, of the institution must exit stage left.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    The first verse of the chapter appears to lead us in a different direction \u201cAnd Samuel\u2019s words went forth to all of Israel.\u201d Following the dimming of the light of prophecy mentioned in the previous chapter, Samuel is now a prophet from Dan (the North) to Be\u2019er Sheva (the South) and God is back in Shiloh. Perhaps the new Spiritual CEO, with his words reaching all of Israel can restore Shiloh to its past glory. Perhaps if Eli had removed his evil sons from their positions of power the war would not have been lost. Perhaps if they would not have brought the Ark to the battlefield, the complete destruction could have been averted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But Eli couldn\u2019t remove his corrupt sons. And the Israelites, due to their horrific leadership could not possibly know how to reform this depraved institution. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Samuel can\u2019t fix Shiloh. He is raised and trained in Shiloh, but like his mother Hannah he is not of Shiloh. His home is Ramah. Throughout his life he always returned home. 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    \u201cWoe to us! Who will save us from the hands of these mighty gods? They are the very gods who struck Egypt with every blow in the wilderness\u201d (4:8)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Commentary: <\/span>every blow<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

    The Hebrew <\/span>makah<\/span><\/em> also means \u201cplague\u201d, an obviously appropriate sense here, but it is important that the writer uses the same word in verse 10, though with a military meaning, for a theological irony is intended in the pun: they feared the might of the Lord Who struck such terrible blows against Egypt, and then they themselves strike a blow against Israel, which actually does not have God in its midst, only His sacred paraphernalia. Here, as elsewhere in the Bible, the national fiction is maintained that all the peoples of Canaan were intimately familiar with the Exodus story and deeply impressed by it. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    From: From: Robert Alter, <\/span>The Hebrew Bible<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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    \u201cThe Ark & The Tablets\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Hillel Norry: Sources about the Ark of the Covenant and its contents. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - I Samuel 4","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":16,"id":"56992","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - I Samuel 4 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - I Samuel 4","slug":"points-to-ponder-i-samuel-4","old_id":"56992","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"236","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

      \r\n\t
    1. \r\n
        \r\n\t
      1. Everybody knows\u2026<\/span><\/i> For the Philistines, the Ark is God Himself. And they are familiar with its power since the desert wanderings. Just like the Canaanite peoples, from about 40 chapters ago (Joshua 9 and Joshua 2).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      2. Man up!<\/span> Or be a mentsch, dude. That\u2019s how you give a pep talk in Philistine - see verse 9.<\/span><\/i><\/li>\r\n\t
      3. The chair<\/span><\/i>. That\u2019s Eli\u2019s place, at the entrance to the House of the Lord. That\u2019s where we met him in chapter 1, and that\u2019s where he meets his demise here.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      4. The sign has been revealed<\/span><\/i>. The \u201cman of God\u201d said two chapters ago that \u201cThis shall be a sign for you: The fate of your two sons Hophni and Phinehas\u2014they shall both die on the same day\u201d (2:34). And that\u2019s just what happened. Stay tuned for the fulfilment of the end of the prophecy 53 chapters hence, in I Kings 2.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
      5. Zoom in.<\/i> From the description of the national disaster, to the story of the premature birth, full of pain and despair, resulting in the baby named Ichabod - without honor (or \u201cthe glory has departed\u201d) - which brings us back full circle to the national story.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Samuel 4","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Samuel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"236","date":"20260726","wall_id":"236"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/56981"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}