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UTN uW Translation Notes:

1 Samuel 4 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

The Ark of the Covenant in Philistine country

This chapter begins a new section on the Ark and the Philistines. It recounts two battles between Israel and the Philistines. In both battles, Israel was badly defeated and, in the second, the Ark was captured.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The Ark is captured

The Philistine army invaded Israel, and Israel’s army went to fight them but was defeated. Israel decided that if they took the Ark into the next battle, God would cause them to win. When Eli’s sons took the Ark into the next battle and the Philistines won the battle, they killed Eli’s two sons and captured the Ark. When Eli heard the Ark was captured, he fell over, broke his neck, and died. Hearing this news, his daughter-in-law named her baby “the glory has departed.”

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Rhetorical Question

The Philistines expressed their fear using a rhetorical question: “Who will protect us from the strength of this mighty God?” (See: figs-rquestion)