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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 4:10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great--thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/4-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/09_1Sa_04_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 4:10 - The Philistines Capture the Ark" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great--thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_samuel/4-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_samuel/4-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad10.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/4-9.htm" title="1 Samuel 4:9">◄</a> 1 Samuel 4:10 <a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm" title="1 Samuel 4:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/1_samuel/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/4.htm">New International Version</a> So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. <a href="/esv/1_samuel/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/4.htm">King James Bible</a> And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/4.htm">New King James Version</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the defeat was very great, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent, and the slaughter was very great; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel 30,000 foot soldiers. <a href="/amp/1_samuel/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated and every man fled to his tent. It was a very great defeat, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. <a href="/csb/1_samuel/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe—30,000 of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. <a href="/asv/1_samuel/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The Philistines did fight. They killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers, and all the rest ran off to their homes. <a href="/erv/1_samuel/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Philistines fought and defeated Israel. Every [Israelite] soldier fled to his tent. It was a major defeat in which 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers died. <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> The Philistines fought hard and defeated the Israelites, who went running to their homes. There was a great slaughter: thirty thousand Israelite soldiers were killed. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; each of them fled to his own tent. It was a very great slaughter, and 30,000 soldiers of Israel died. <a href="/msb/1_samuel/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great?thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. <a href="/net/1_samuel/4.htm">NET Bible</a> So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home. The slaughter was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers fell in battle. <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/web/1_samuel/4.htm">World English Bible</a> The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And the Philistines fight, and Israel is struck, and they each flee to his tents, and the slaughter is very great, and thirty thousand footmen of Israel fall; <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And the Philistines fight, and Israel is smitten, and they flee each to his tents, and the blow is very great, and there fall of Israel thirty thousand footmen; <a href="/slt/1_samuel/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Philisteim will fight and smite Israel, and they will flee, a man to his tent: and the blow will be very great, and there will fall from Israel thirty thousand footmen.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> So the Philistines fought, and Israel was overthrown, and every man fled to his own dwelling: and there was an exceeding great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, the Philistines fought, and Israel was cut down, and each one fled to his own tent. And an exceedingly great slaughter occurred. And thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell. <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/4.htm">New American Bible</a> The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; everyone fled to their own tents. It was a disastrous defeat; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home. There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the Philistines fought with Israel, and Israel was defeated, and they fled every man to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter in Israel; for there fell of Israel in that day thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And the Philistines fought with Israel and Israel was defeated, and they fled, each man, to his tent, and there was a very great plague in Israel, and thirty thousand Foot Soldiers of Israel fell on that day<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. <a href="/sep/1_samuel/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And they fought with them; and the men of Israel fall, and they fled every man to his ten; and there was a very great slaughter; and there fell of Israel thirty thousand fighting men. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/4-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1061" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/4.htm">The Philistines Capture the Ark</a> …9Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!” 10<a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: p̄ə·liš·tîm (N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">So the Philistines</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: way·yil·lā·ḥă·mū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">fought,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">and Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/5062.htm" title="5062: way·yin·nā·ḡep̄ (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To strike, smite. A primitive root; to push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict.">was defeated,</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">and each man</a> <a href="/hebrew/5127.htm" title="5127: way·yā·nu·sū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To flee, escape. A primitive root; to flit, i.e. Vanish away.">fled</a> <a href="/hebrew/168.htm" title="168: lə·’ō·hā·lāw (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3ms) -- A tent. From 'ahal; a tent.">to his tent.</a> <a href="/hebrew/4347.htm" title="4347: ham·mak·kāh (Art:: N-fs) -- A blow, wound, slaughter. Or makkeh; from nakah; a blow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence.">The slaughter</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wat·tə·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">was</a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: mə·’ōḏ (Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc.">very</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gə·ḏō·w·lāh (Adj-fs) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">great—</a> <a href="/hebrew/7970.htm" title="7970: šə·lō·šîm (Number-cp) -- Thirty. Or shloshiym; multiple of shalowsh; thirty; or thirtieth.">thirty</a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: ’e·lep̄ (Number-ms) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand.">thousand</a> <a href="/hebrew/7273.htm" title="7273: raḡ·lî (Adj-ms) -- On foot. From regel; a footman.">foot soldiers</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: mî·yiś·rā·’êl (Prep-m:: N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: way·yip·pōl (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">fell.</a> 11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/judges/2-14.htm">Judges 2:14</a> Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. <a href="/judges/10-7.htm">Judges 10:7</a> So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites, <a href="/2_samuel/1-4.htm">2 Samuel 1:4</a> “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” <a href="/2_kings/17-20.htm">2 Kings 17:20</a> So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence. <a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60-64</a> He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men. / He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary. / He surrendered His people to the sword because He was enraged by His heritage. ... <a href="/jeremiah/7-12.htm">Jeremiah 7:12-14</a> But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. / And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, / therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers. <a href="/lamentations/2-7.htm">Lamentations 2:7</a> The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has delivered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast. <a href="/hosea/9-12.htm">Hosea 9:12-17</a> Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them! / I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow. But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter. / Give them, O LORD—what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up! ... <a href="/amos/5-2.htm">Amos 5:2</a> “Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again. She lies abandoned on her land, with no one to raise her up.” <a href="/isaiah/42-24.htm">Isaiah 42:24-25</a> Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law. / So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart. <a href="/deuteronomy/28-25.htm">Deuteronomy 28:25</a> The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. <a href="/leviticus/26-17.htm">Leviticus 26:17</a> And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you. <a href="/1_chronicles/5-25.htm">1 Chronicles 5:25-26</a> But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and they prostituted themselves with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. / So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day. <a href="/2_chronicles/36-17.htm">2 Chronicles 36:17-19</a> So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. <a href="/romans/11-7.htm">Romans 11:7-10</a> What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, / as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” / And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.Israel<a href="/1_samuel/4-2.htm">1 Samuel 4:2</a> 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.<a href="/leviticus/26-17.htm">Leviticus 26:17</a> And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.<a href="/deuteronomy/28-25.htm">Deuteronomy 28:25</a> The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.every man<a href="/2_samuel/20-1.htm">2 Samuel 20:1</a> And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.<a href="/1_kings/12-16.htm">1 Kings 12:16</a> So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.<a href="/1_kings/22-36.htm">1 Kings 22:36</a> And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.a very great<a href="/2_samuel/18-7.htm">2 Samuel 18:7</a> Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.<a href="/2_chronicles/13-17.htm">2 Chronicles 13:17</a> And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.<a href="/2_chronicles/28-5.htm">2 Chronicles 28:5,6</a> Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/16-28.htm">Blow</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-2.htm">Defeated</a> <a href="/judges/15-16.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-20.htm">Home</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-5.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-3.htm">Lost</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-2.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-9.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-2.htm">Routed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-25.htm">Slaughter</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/judges/20-2.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-8.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-22.htm">Tent</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-7.htm">Tents</a> <a href="/judges/20-39.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-2.htm">Thousand</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/18-11.htm">Blow</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-3.htm">Defeated</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-7.htm">Home</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-17.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-6.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-3.htm">Lost</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-13.htm">Overcome</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-17.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-10.htm">Routed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-17.htm">Slaughter</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-28.htm">Soldiers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-2.htm">Tent</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-16.htm">Tents</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-22.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Thousand</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 4</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer</a> 3. <a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines</a> 10. <a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain</a> 12. <a href="/1_samuel/4-12.htm">Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck</a> 19. <a href="/1_samuel/4-19.htm">Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So the Philistines fought The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. Known for their military prowess and iron weaponry, they were a constant threat to Israel during the time of the Judges and early monarchy. This battle is part of a series of conflicts between Israel and the Philistines, highlighting the ongoing struggle for dominance in the region.and Israel was defeated This defeat is significant as it reflects Israel's spiritual state. The Israelites had brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle, believing it would ensure victory. However, their defeat underscores the futility of relying on religious symbols without true faith and obedience to God. This event marks a turning point, leading to a period of reflection and eventual repentance.and each man fled to his tent The phrase indicates a complete rout, with soldiers abandoning the battlefield in disarray. In ancient warfare, retreating to one's tent symbolized a return to personal safety and a withdrawal from collective responsibility. This reflects the demoralization and lack of unity among the Israelites, contrasting with the communal strength they were meant to embody.The slaughter was very great The magnitude of the defeat is emphasized by the term "very great," indicating not just a military loss but a devastating blow to the nation's morale and manpower. This serves as a divine judgment against Israel for their disobedience and misplaced trust in the Ark as a talisman rather than in God Himself.thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell The loss of thirty thousand soldiers is a staggering number, illustrating the severity of the defeat. This figure highlights the scale of the disaster and the vulnerability of Israel without divine favor. It also serves as a historical record of the consequences of Israel's spiritual decline, paralleling other biblical instances where disobedience led to national calamity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a> A significant enemy of Israel during the time of the Judges and early monarchy. Known for their military prowess and frequent conflicts with Israel. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> The people of God, chosen to be a holy nation. At this time, they were struggling with faithfulness and obedience to God. 3. <a href="/topical/b/battle.htm">Battle</a> A significant event where the Israelites faced the Philistines and suffered a devastating defeat. 4. <a href="/topical/a/ark_of_the_covenant.htm">Ark of the Covenant</a> Although not mentioned in this specific verse, it plays a crucial role in the surrounding account. The Israelites brought it to the battlefield, hoping it would ensure victory. 5. <a href="/topical/s/shiloh.htm">Shiloh</a> The religious center of Israel at the time, where the Ark was kept before being brought to the battlefield.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> Israel's defeat serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of turning away from God and relying on human strength or symbols without true faith. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_superficial_faith.htm">The Danger of Superficial Faith</a> Bringing the Ark to battle without genuine repentance and faith illustrates the danger of treating God as a talisman rather than seeking a true relationship with Him. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_leadership.htm">The Importance of Leadership</a> The absence of strong, godly leadership in Israel at this time contributed to their defeat. This underscores the need for leaders who seek God's guidance. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_defeat.htm">God's Sovereignty in Defeat</a> Even in defeat, God is sovereign and can use such events to bring about repentance and renewal among His people. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> The account encourages believers to examine their lives for areas of disobedience and to seek God's forgiveness and guidance.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 4</a> <a href="/q/contradictions_in_1_samuel_4_on_eli's_sons.htm">Are there any contradictions between 1 Samuel 4 and other biblical accounts regarding the fate of Eli’s sons or the Ark’s movements? </a> <a href="/q/is_30,000_israelite_deaths_credible.htm">How reliable is the claim of 30,000 Israelite deaths (1 Samuel 4:10) given historical population estimates of that era? </a> <a href="/q/why_allow_enemies_to_take_the_ark.htm">Why would an omnipotent God allow His sacred Ark to be taken by enemies (1 Samuel 4:11)? </a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_philistines_capturing_ark.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence to support the Philistines' capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) And Israel was smitten.--The result was strictly in accordance with those immutable laws which have ever guided the connection of Israel and their God-Friend. As long as they clave to the invisible Preserver, and served Him with their whole heart and soul, and kept themselves pure from the pollution of the idol nations around them, so long was He in their midst, so long would they be invincible; but if, as now, they chose to revel in the impure joys, and to delight themselves in the selfish, shameless lives of the idolatrous world around them, and only carried the Ark on their shoulders, with no memory of Him whom the mercy-seat and the overshadowing cherubim of that Ark symbolised, in their hearts, then--to use the solemn words of the hymn of Asaph--"Then God was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel, and forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, and delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand." (See <a href="/context/psalms/78-59.htm" title="When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:">Psalm 78:59-61</a>, where the crushing defeat of Aphek and the signal victory of the Philistines is recounted in detail.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 10. - Israel fled every man into - better to - his tent. Their camp stood them this time in no stead. It was stormed by the Philistines, and the whole army fled in confusion. In those days the Israelites dwelt in tents, and to flee "every man to his tent" means that they fled away in every direction, each to his own home. It is in this indiscriminate flight that an army suffers most. As long as men keep together the loss is comparatively slight. But now, thus utterly broken, there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen - a terrible slaughter. They are called footmen because the Israelites had neither cavalry nor chariots. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/4-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So the Philistines פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia fought, וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ (way·yil·lā·ḥă·mū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> To feed on, to consume, to battle and Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc was defeated, וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף (way·yin·nā·ḡep̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5062.htm">Strong's 5062: </a> To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict and each man אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person fled וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙ (way·yā·nu·sū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5127.htm">Strong's 5127: </a> To flit, vanish away to his tent. לְאֹהָלָ֔יו (lə·’ō·hā·lāw) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_168.htm">Strong's 168: </a> A tent The slaughter הַמַּכָּ֖ה (ham·mak·kāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4347.htm">Strong's 4347: </a> A wound, carnage, pestilence was וַתְּהִ֥י (wat·tə·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be very מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3966.htm">Strong's 3966: </a> Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily great— גְּדוֹלָ֣ה (gə·ḏō·w·lāh) Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> Great, older, insolent thirty שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (šə·lō·šîm) Number - common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7970.htm">Strong's 7970: </a> Thirty, thirtieth thousand אֶ֖לֶף (’e·lep̄) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_505.htm">Strong's 505: </a> A thousand foot soldiers רַגְלִֽי׃ (raḡ·lî) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7273.htm">Strong's 7273: </a> A footman of Israel מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (mî·yiś·rā·’êl) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc fell. וַיִּפֹּל֙ (way·yip·pōl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5307.htm">Strong's 5307: </a> To fall, lie <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 4:10 The Philistines fought and Israel was struck (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/4-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 4:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 4:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 4:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 4:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>