1 Samuel 4:3 “When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why…”

1 Samuel 4:3

When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

World English Bible

When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s get the ark of the LORD’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.”

American Standard Version

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.

Geneva Bible 1599

So when the people were come into the campe, the Elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten vs this day before ye Philistims? let vs bring the Arke of the couenant of the Lord out of Shiloh vnto vs, that when it commeth among vs, it may saue vs out of the hande of our enemies.

Darby Translation

And the people came into the camp; and the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch ourselves the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.

Young's Literal Translation

And the people cometh in unto the camp, and the elders of Israel say, 'Why hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? we take unto us from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and it cometh into our midst, and He doth save us out of the hand of our enemies.'

Bible in Basic English

And when the people came back to their tents, the responsible men of Israel said, Why has the Lord let the Philistines overcome us today? Let us get the ark of the Lord's agreement here from Shiloh, so that it may be with us and give us salvation from the hands of those who are against us.

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Cross references

“Wherefore”

Deuteronomy 29:24 Psalm 74:1 Psalm 74:11 Isaiah 50:1 Isaiah 58:3

Deuteronomy 29:24 · BSB

So all the nations will ask, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’

Psalm 74:1 · BSB

Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?

Psalm 74:11 · BSB

Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!

Isaiah 50:1 · BSB

This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your…

Isaiah 58:3 · BSB

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

“Let us”

1 Samuel 14:18 Numbers 31:6 2 Samuel 15:25 Isaiah 1:11–15 Jeremiah 7:4 Jeremiah 7:8–15

1 Samuel 14:18 · BSB

Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

Numbers 31:6 · BSB

And Moses sent the thousand from each tribe into battle, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took with him the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

2 Samuel 15:25 · BSB

Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.

Isaiah 1:11–15 · BSB

“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

Jeremiah 7:4 · BSB

Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’

Jeremiah 7:8–15 · BSB

But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

“the ark”

Numbers 10:33 Deuteronomy 31:26 Joshua 4:7 1 Chronicles 17:1 Jeremiah 3:16 Hebrews 9:4

Numbers 10:33 · BSB

So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.

Deuteronomy 31:26 · BSB

“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

Joshua 4:7 · BSB

you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites f…

1 Chronicles 17:1 · BSB

After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”

Jeremiah 3:16 · BSB

“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor wi…

Hebrews 9:4 · BSB

containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

“it may save”

2 Timothy 3:5 1 Corinthians 10:1–5 1 Peter 3:21 Jude 1:5 Matthew 23:25–28 Jeremiah 7:8–11

2 Timothy 3:5 · BSB

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

1 Corinthians 10:1–5 · BSB

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

1 Peter 3:21 · BSB

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Jude 1:5 · BSB

Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.

Matthew 23:25–28 · BSB

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Jeremiah 7:8–11 · BSB

But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

Also

Numbers 10:35 Joshua 7:7

Numbers 10:35 · BSB

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”

Joshua 7:7 · BSB

“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

2The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Read 1 Samuel 4