SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:4
Y envió el pueblo a Silo, y trajeron de allá el arca del pacto del SEÑOR de los ejércitos, que estaba asentado entre los querubines; y los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees, estaban allí con el arca del pacto de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:4
Verse 4. The Lord of hosts] See on chap. i. 3. Dwelleth between the cherubims] Of what shape the cherubim were, we know not; but there was one of these representative figures placed at each end of the ark of the covenant; and between them, on the lid or cover of that ark, which was called the propitiatory or mercy-seat, the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine presence, was said to dwell. They thought, therefore, if they had the ark, they must necessarily have the presence and influence of Jehovah.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. So the people sent to Shiloh , etc.] They liked the proposal of the elders, took their advice, and joined with them in a message to Eli the high priest at Shiloh: that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim ; which overshadowed the mercy seat that was upon the ark, and was the residence of the divine Majesty; wherefore having this with them, they concluded they should have the presence of God with them, and so success, (see Psalm 53:1 99:1) and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God ; these, either with or without the leave of Eli, took the ark out of the tabernacle, and carried it on their shoulders to the camp, or however attended it there, being borne by other priests or Levites; and by this means they were brought into the camp, and so to battle, to meet their doom there; according to Bunting f81 , it was carried by them forty two miles.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Israel is smitten before the Philistines. Sin, the accursed thing, wa in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wis for. They own the hand of God in their trouble; but, instead of submitting, they speak angrily, as not aware of any just provocatio they had given him. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and the his heart frets against the Lord, Pr 19:3, and finds fault with him They supposed that they could oblige God to appear for them, by bringing the ark into their camp. Those who have gone back in the lif of religion, sometimes discover great fondness for the outwar observances of it, as if those would save them; and as if the ark God's throne, in the camp, would bring them to heaven, though the worl and the flesh are on the throne in the heart.
Original Hebrew
וישׁלח 7971 העם 5971 שׁלה 7887 וישׂאו 5375 משׁם 8033 את 853 ארון 727 ברית 1285 יהוה 3069 צבאות 6635 ישׁב 3427 הכרבים 3742 ושׁם 8033 שׁני 8147 בני 1121 עלי 5941 עם 5973 ארון 727 ברית 1285 האלהים 430 חפני 2652 ופינחס׃ 6372
