1 Samuel 4:2
New International Version
The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.

New Living Translation
The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.

English Standard Version
The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.

Berean Standard Bible
The 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.

King James Bible
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

New King James Version
Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.

New American Standard Bible
Then the Philistines drew up in battle formation to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

NASB 1995
The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

NASB 1977
And the Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the Philistines arranged themselves to meet Israel. Then the battle spread, and Israel was defeated before the Philistines who struck down about 4,000 men on the battlefield.

Amplified Bible
The Philistines assembled in battle formation to meet Israel, and when the battle was over, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about4,000 men on the battlefield.

American Standard Version
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

Contemporary English Version
The Philistines made a fierce attack. They defeated the Israelites and killed about 4,000 of them.

English Revised Version
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Philistines organized their troops to meet Israel in battle. As the battle spread, the Philistines defeated Israel and killed about 4,000 soldiers in the field.

Good News Translation
The Philistines attacked, and after fierce fighting they defeated the Israelites and killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

International Standard Version
The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

Majority Standard Bible
The 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.

NET Bible
The Philistines arranged their forces to fight Israel. As the battle spread out, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men in the battle line in the field.

New Heart English Bible
The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

World English Bible
The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. When they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Philistines set themselves in array to meet Israel, and the battle spreads itself, and Israel is struck before the Philistines, and they strike among the ranks in the field about four thousand men.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Philistines set themselves in array to meet Israel, and the battle spreadeth itself, and Israel is smitten before the Philistines, and they smite among the ranks in the field about four thousand men.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Philisteim will set in array to meet Israel: and the battle will smite, and Israel will be smitten before Philisteim: and they will strike the array in the field, about four thousand men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And put their army in array against Israel. And when they had joined battle, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines, and there was slain in that fight here and there in the fields about four thousand men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and they positioned their troops against Israel. Then, when the conflict began, Israel turned his back to the Philistines. And they were cut down in that conflict, in various places in the fields, about four thousand men.

New American Bible
The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel. After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

New Revised Standard Version
The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle was joined, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel; and when they fought, Israel was defeated before the Philistines; and there were slain on the battlefield about four thousand men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Philistines were arrayed against Israel and there was a battle, and Israel was defeated before the Philistines, and about four thousand men in array were killed in the field
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel; and when the battle was spread, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Philistines prepare to fight with Israel, and the battle was turned against them; and the men of Israel fell before the Philistines, and there were smitten in the battle in the field four thousand men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Philistines Capture the Ark
1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 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. 3When 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.”…

Cross References
Judges 20:21
And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

Judges 20:25
That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.

1 Samuel 2:32
You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age.

1 Samuel 7:3-4
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” / So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

1 Samuel 12:9
But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

1 Samuel 13:19-20
And no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews must not be allowed to make swords or spears.” / Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

1 Samuel 14:22
When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined the battle in close pursuit.

1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 Samuel 1:4
“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

2 Samuel 5:17
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

2 Kings 13:3
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.

Psalm 78:60-64
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men. / He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary. / He surrendered His people to the sword because He was enraged by His heritage. ...

Isaiah 10:5-6
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Jeremiah 7:12-14
But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. / And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, / therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers.

Jeremiah 46:15
Why have your warriors been laid low? They cannot stand, for the LORD has thrust them down.


Treasury of Scripture

And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

put

1 Samuel 17:8,21
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me…

Joshua 7:5-8,12
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water…

Psalm 44:9,10
But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies…

and they

Psalm 79:7,8
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place…

Psalm 106:40,41
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance…

Lamentations 3:40
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

the army [heb] the array

Jump to Previous
Army Array Battle Defeated Deployed Drew Hard Israel Joined Killed Line Meet Order Overcome Philistines Routed Slew Smite Smitten Spread Spreadeth Struck Sword Themselves Thousand
Jump to Next
Army Array Battle Defeated Deployed Drew Hard Israel Joined Killed Line Meet Order Overcome Philistines Routed Slew Smite Smitten Spread Spreadeth Struck Sword Themselves Thousand
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














The Philistines
The Philistines were a significant and persistent enemy of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Archaeologically, they are believed to have been part of the Sea Peoples who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. Their presence in the biblical narrative often symbolizes the worldly opposition to God's chosen people. The Philistines' advanced military technology, including their use of iron, posed a formidable challenge to Israel, who were often less equipped.

deployed their forces
The Hebrew root for "deployed" suggests a strategic and organized preparation for battle. This indicates the Philistines' military prowess and their readiness to confront Israel. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a reminder of the organized nature of spiritual warfare, where the forces of darkness are often well-prepared to challenge the people of God.

to meet Israel
The phrase "to meet Israel" implies a direct confrontation. Historically, Israel's identity as God's chosen nation meant that their battles were not just physical but also spiritual. This meeting was not merely a clash of armies but a confrontation between the people of God and those who opposed His purposes.

as the battle spread
The spreading of the battle suggests chaos and intensity. In the Hebrew context, battles were often seen as a test of divine favor. The spreading of the battle can symbolize the pervasive nature of sin and conflict in the world, which often seems to escalate beyond control.

Israel was defeated
The defeat of Israel is a significant moment, highlighting the consequences of disobedience and lack of faith. In the broader scriptural context, Israel's defeats often served as a call to repentance and a return to reliance on God. This defeat serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of spiritual vigilance and obedience.

by the Philistines
The Philistines, as instruments of God's judgment, remind us that God can use even His people's enemies to bring about His purposes. This serves as a lesson in humility and the need for constant dependence on God, rather than on human strength or alliances.

who killed about four thousand men
The specific number, "four thousand," underscores the severity of the defeat. In biblical numerology, numbers often carry symbolic meaning. While the number four can represent completeness, in this context, it highlights the totality of the loss and the dire situation Israel faced due to their spiritual state.

on the battlefield
The battlefield is not just a physical location but a spiritual metaphor for the struggles believers face. It is a place where faith is tested, and reliance on God is paramount. This phrase serves as a reminder that the battles we face in life are not just against flesh and blood but are spiritual in nature, requiring divine intervention and guidance.

Verse 2. - In the field means "in the open country." By a gradual change of language it now signifies cultivated ground, and even an enclosure, whereas in the A.V. it retains its old meaning of unenclosed and uncultivated land (see 2 Kings 4:39).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

arrayed themselves
וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ (way·ya·‘ar·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order

against
לִקְרַ֣את (liq·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and as the battle
הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (ham·mil·ḥā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

spread,
וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ (wat·tiṭ·ṭōš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5203: To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, upon

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

was defeated
וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף (way·yin·nā·ḡep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict

by
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the Philistines,
פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

who struck down
וַיַּכּ֤וּ (way·yak·kū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

about four
כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת (kə·’ar·ba·‘aṯ)
Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 702: Four

thousand
אֲלָפִ֖ים (’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand

men
אִֽישׁ׃ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

on the battlefield.
בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ (ḇam·ma·‘ă·rā·ḵāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4634: An arrangement, a pile, a military array


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OT History: 1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines put themselves in array against (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 4:1
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