V.1-2 Samuel is now the prophet. Judgment on Israel comes suddenly. God’s people Israel, are faced with a powerful enemy, the Philistines. At the first battle, there are 4,000 men of Israel killed.
V.3 They decide to bring the ark with them “that it may save us.” What a terrible thing to do — like using the Lord as a convenience. They never felt that their own sinful condition was the reason for the defeat.
V.5 When the ark is brought to them, they shout with great self-confidence.
V.10 This time there are 40,000 Israelites killed in battle! The ark of God is taken by the enemy, and Hophni and Phinehas are both killed — just as God told Samuel. The ark was the highest and holiest picture of the presence of the Lord.
V.12-18 The sad end to old Eli, he had just heard of the death of his sons, and that the ark of God was taken. And it seems that the taking of the ark of God brought him more grief than the loss of his two sons. It is good to understand this.
V.19-22 The wife of Phinehas hears that her husband and his brother both are killed. She is in pain in giving birth to a child, and is at the point of death. She asks that his son be called “Ichabod” (which means “there is no glory”) because the ark of God was taken. For her, this was the worst news. When the ark of God is lost by Israel, everything is gone! The ark was never in the House of the Lord again.
V.21 Notice the order of importance in which this woman places the three dreadful events.