1 samuel 4:13 - When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.
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What does "1 samuel 4:13" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 4:13 depicts a scene of intense anxiety and immediate reaction to news of national importance. Let's break it down:
"When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching...": Eli, the high priest of Israel, is positioned where he can observe and hear news from the battlefield. His position implies he's waiting with anticipation and concern.
"...for his heart trembled for God’s ark.": This is the key to understanding Eli's anxiety. The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object to the Israelites, representing God's presence. Eli's "trembling heart" signifies his deep concern about the Ark's safety, suggesting the Israelites had taken the Ark into battle, and he feared they might lose it to the Philistines. Losing the Ark would be a catastrophic religious and national blow.
"When the man came into the city and told about it...": This describes a messenger arriving from the battle front.
"...all the city cried out.": This is the reaction to the news the messenger brought. The "crying out" likely signifies a collective expression of grief, shock, and fear, which means the news was terrible. Given Eli's anxiety about the Ark and the likely implication, it can be inferred the messenger brought news of a significant defeat and possibly the capture or loss of the Ark.
In summary, the verse describes a scene of:
Anxiety and anticipation: Eli is deeply worried about the outcome of a battle, particularly about the fate of the Ark.
National importance: The news from the battlefield is of such significance that it affects the entire city.
Devastating news: The collective outcry indicates that the news is overwhelmingly negative, foreshadowing the likely loss of the battle and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. This verse creates a sense of dread and sets the stage for the tragic events that follow in the chapter. The people cried out in response to the news that the Ark was taken, because they realized God's presence was no longer with them.
1 samuel 4:13 - When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.
What does "1 samuel 4:13" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 4:13 depicts a scene of intense anxiety and immediate reaction to news of national importance. Let's break it down:
"When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching...": Eli, the high priest of Israel, is positioned where he can observe and hear news from the battlefield. His position implies he's waiting with anticipation and concern.
"...for his heart trembled for God’s ark.": This is the key to understanding Eli's anxiety. The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object to the Israelites, representing God's presence. Eli's "trembling heart" signifies his deep concern about the Ark's safety, suggesting the Israelites had taken the Ark into battle, and he feared they might lose it to the Philistines. Losing the Ark would be a catastrophic religious and national blow.
"When the man came into the city and told about it...": This describes a messenger arriving from the battle front.
"...all the city cried out.": This is the reaction to the news the messenger brought. The "crying out" likely signifies a collective expression of grief, shock, and fear, which means the news was terrible. Given Eli's anxiety about the Ark and the likely implication, it can be inferred the messenger brought news of a significant defeat and possibly the capture or loss of the Ark.
In summary, the verse describes a scene of:
Anxiety and anticipation: Eli is deeply worried about the outcome of a battle, particularly about the fate of the Ark.
National importance: The news from the battlefield is of such significance that it affects the entire city.
Devastating news: The collective outcry indicates that the news is overwhelmingly negative, foreshadowing the likely loss of the battle and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. This verse creates a sense of dread and sets the stage for the tragic events that follow in the chapter. The people cried out in response to the news that the Ark was taken, because they realized God's presence was no longer with them.