THE Philistines] see on Judges 3:3. EBENEZER] 'stone of help.' The place is called by the name familiar to the readers of the book, though it did not actually receive the name till later (1 Samuel 7:12). The positions of Eben-ezer and Aphek have not been determined with certainty.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAPTURE OF THE ARK BY THE PHILISTINES. DEATH OF ELI The reason which led to 1 Samuel 4:1; being detached from its proper context is that without it this chapter seems to begin with inexplicable abruptness. The explanation of this lack of connexion is that the editor is now using a different documen... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT] so called because it was a sign and proof both of God's covenant and of His presence.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'which sitteth upon the cherubim.' This does not imply that there were figures of cherubim upon the ark (1 Kings 8:6), but refers to the general glory of Jehovah. The cherubs are heavenly beings regarded as standing in Jehovah's presence (cp. the seraphim of Isaiah 6), and, in Ezekiel 1:10, as of... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS] This is the general name for Israelites when foreigners are the speakers (Genesis 39:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
The Philistines are not quite accurate in their history, but the mistake is not at all unnatural.... [ Continue Reading ]
NINETY AND EIGHT] This number is interesting as showing how mistakes arise. In the original it was denoted by two letters. The LXX, losing sight of one, reads 90. The Syriac, confusing 9 with 7, reads 78. The Hebrew explains the cause of the other two readings. 19F. The narrative is somewhat obscu... [ Continue Reading ]
I-CHABOD] 'no glory.' The glory was that of the presence of God, the visible sign and symbol of which was the ark.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPARTED] lit. 'gone into exile.' The ark had gone into a foreign land.... [ Continue Reading ]