The Meaning of 1 Samuel 4:11 Explained

1 Samuel 4:11

KJV: And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

YLT: and the ark of God hath been taken, and the two sons of Eli have died, Hophni and Phinehas.

Darby: And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

ASV: And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the ark  of God  was taken;  and the two  sons  of Eli,  Hophni  and Phinehas,  were slain. 

What does 1 Samuel 4:11 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 4:1-11 - Trusting In The Ark, Not In God
The predictions against Eli's house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the supply of God's saving help.
In this instance, however, Israel did not carry the inquiry into God's presence, but endeavored to supply the lapse of divine help by introducing the symbol of the Covenant. "Fetch the Ark!" they cried. They supposed that, in some mysterious way, it would bring God into their camp and ally Him with their arms. In the same manner a brigand might expect an amulet or charm to preserve his life, while violating the laws of God and man. These materialized views of the Israelites' relations with God had to be corrected; and hence defeat ensued. Our only safety lies, not in an outward act or token, but in simple, pure-hearted and unbroken fellowship with God. Then we become invincible. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 4

1  The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer
3  They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines
10  They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain
12  Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck
19  Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:11 mean?

And the ark of God was captured and the two sons of Eli died Hophni and Phinehas
וַאֲר֥וֹן אֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָ֑ח וּשְׁנֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־ עֵלִי֙ מֵ֔תוּ חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס

וַאֲר֥וֹן  And  the  ark 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נִלְקָ֑ח  was  captured 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
וּשְׁנֵ֤י  and  the  two 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְנֵֽי־  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עֵלִי֙  of  Eli 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵלִי  
Sense: descendant of Aaron through Ithamar and high priest and judge of Israel when Samuel entered service as a child.
מֵ֔תוּ  died 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
חָפְנִ֖י  Hophni 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָפְנִי  
Sense: one of the two sons of Eli who were priests at Shiloh and were noted for their brutality and lust; their sinfulness provoked a curse against their father’s house and were judged by the Lord when they took the ark into battle; the ark was lost and both brothers were killed and Eli died when he heard the news.
וּפִֽינְחָֽס  and  Phinehas 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פִּינְחָס  
Sense: son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 4:11?

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