1
1 Samuel 4:1
英文原文
Some attach the opening words to the close of 1 Samuel 3, as the complement of what is there said, "The Lord revealed himself to Samuel ... in Shiloh, and the word of Samuel went forth to all Israel." If placed at the commencement of 1 Samuel 4, and in connection with what follows, they are to be understood in the sense that Samuel called all Israel to battle against the Philistines. (Compare 1 Samuel 7:5.) But this is not the natural interpretation of the words, which seem clearly to belong to what went before.
The mention of the Philistines connects the narrative with Judges 13-16. Since the Philistine servitude lasted forty years Judges 13:1, and seems to have terminated in the days of Samuel 1 Samuel 7:13-14 in about the 20th year of his judgeship 1 Samuel 7:2; and since it had already begun before the birth of Samson Judges 13:5, and Samson judged Israel for 20 years "in the days of the Philistines" Judges 15:20, it seems to follow that the latter part of the judgeship of Eli and the early part of that of Samuel must have been coincident with the lifetime of Samson.
Eben-ezer - (or, the stone of help) The place was afterward so named by Samuel. See the marginal references. "Aphek," or the "fortress," was probably the same as the "Aphek" of Joshua 12:18. It would be toward the western frontier of Judah, not very far from Mizpeh of Benjamin, and near Shiloh 1 Samuel 4:4.
3
1 Samuel 4:3
以色列人战败的那天晚上，长老们聚集商议，决定打发人去把约柜运来。经文对约柜作了完整的描述，意味着他们自恃圣约的效力，以为神不能不将胜利赐给他们（比较 Numbers 10:35；Joshua 3:10）。
英文原文
In the evening of the defeat of the Israelites the elders held a council, and resolved to send for the ark, which is described in full, as implying that in virtue of the covenant God could not but give them the victory (compare Numbers 10:35; Joshua 3:10).
4
1 Samuel 4:4
“百姓打发人去”——这一措辞很能显出士师记的作者屡次指出的政治状况：“那时以色列中没有王。”
英文原文
The people sent - The expression is very indicative of the political state so frequently noted by the writer of the Book of Judges, "In those days there was no king in Israel."
6
1 Samuel 4:6
“希伯来人的”——这是外邦民族对以色列人的称呼（比较 Exodus 1:15；Exodus 2:6）。
英文原文
Of the Hebrews - This was the name by which the Israelites were known to foreign nations (compare Exodus 1:15; Exodus 2:6).
8
1 Samuel 4:8
这是非利士人对五经所记事件之真实性的一个非凡见证。非利士人自然必听说过这些事，正如巴勒和耶利哥的人听说过一样，Numbers 22:5；Joshua 2:10。
用各样灾殃…… - 更应作“用各样的灾殃”，等于说“以彻底的毁灭”。
英文原文
This is a remarkable testimony on the part of the Philistines to the truth of the events which are recorded in the Pentateuch. The Philistines would of course hear of them, just as Balak and the people of Jericho did Numbers 22:5; Joshua 2:10.
With all the plagues ... - Rather, "with every kind of plague" equivalent to "with utter destruction.
12
1 Samuel 4:12
脚快善跑、能行走远路的报信人，是重要而广为人知的人物（比较 2 Samuel 18:19-31）。随军在阵中充任信使的专职报信人，似乎历来都有（2 Kings 11:4，2 Kings 11:6，2 Kings 11:19；钦定译本译作“护卫兵”）。
头蒙灰尘 - 表示极度的悲哀。比较旁注参考。
英文原文
Runners who were swift of foot, and could go long distances were important and well-known persons (compare 2 Samuel 18:19-31). There seem to have been always professional runners to act as messengers with armies in the field (2 Kings 11:4, 2 Kings 11:6,2 Kings 11:19, the King James Version "guards").
Earth upon his head - In token of bitter grief. Compare the marginal references.
15
1 Samuel 4:15
“发直”——毋宁译作“定住”。该词与撒母耳记上3:2中译作“昏花”的词完全不同。这个说法似乎表达盲眼“凝定”的状态，不受光线影响。以利的失明使他对声音更为敏锐，却使他看不见报恶信者撕裂的衣服与头上蒙的灰。
英文原文
Dim - Rather, "set." The word is quite different from that so rendered in 1 Samuel 3:2. The phrase seems to express the "fixed" state of the blind eye, which is not affected by the light. Eli's blindness, while it made him alive to sounds, prevented his seeing the ripped garments and dust-besprinkled head of the messenger of bad news.
18
1 Samuel 4:18
将2 Samuel 18:4与之比较，就能准确解释“门旁”的含义以及以利的位置。他的座位或宝座没有靠背，侧面挨着门侧的柱子放置，使城门的通道完全畅通无阻；但其位置恰好使每个经过城门的人都必须从他面前经过。
四十年 - 这则年代记事使本书与《士师记》相衔接（比较Judges 3:11等）。以利四十年士师之职的年代，与大祭司以利亚撒之子非尼哈的去世相距多近，是一个有趣却很难回答的问题。其间很可能至少还隔有一位大祭司。
英文原文
A comparison of 2 Samuel 18:4, explains exactly the meaning of the "side of the gate," and Eli's position. His seat or throne, without a back, stood with the side against the jamb of the gate, leaving the passage through the gate quite clear, but placed so that every one passing through the gate must pass in front of him.
Forty years - This chronological note connects this book with that of Judges. (Compare Judges 3:11, etc.) It is an interesting question, but one very difficult to answer how near to the death of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the High Priest, Eli's forty years of judgeship bring him. It is probable that at least one high priesthood intervened.
21
1 Samuel 4:21
离开了 - 准确地说，是“被掳去了”的意思。
英文原文
Is departed - Properly, "Is gone into captivity."
22
1 Samuel 4:22
这里如此有力地教导我们的功课——祭司的贪财与放荡给教会带来毁坏——在犹太人和基督徒当中已一再得到印证，它过于严肃、过于重要，不容忽视。当圣洁的荣耀离开一个本应圣洁的群体时，神同在的荣耀就已经离去，他保护的外在凭据也可预期很快随之而去。（比较Ezekiel 10:18；Ezekiel 11:23；Revelation 2:5。）然而，个别会众虽然可能跌倒，我们主对他子民的应许却永不落空（Matthew 28:20）。
英文原文
The lesson of the ruin brought upon Churches by the covetousness and profligacy of their priests, which is here taught us so forcibly, and which has been again and again illustrated in Jews and Christians, is too solemn and important to be overlooked. When the glory of holiness departs from what should be a holy community, the glory of God's presence has already departed, and the outward tokens of His protection may be expected to depart soon likewise. (Compare Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel 11:23; Revelation 2:5.) But though particular congregations may fall, our Lord's promise will never fail his people Matthew 28:20.
有人把本节开首的话附在 1 Samuel 3 的末尾，视为对那里所述内容的补充，即“耶和华在示罗向撒母耳显现自己……撒母耳的话传遍全以色列”。若把这些话放在 1 Samuel 4 的开头、与下文相连来理解，其意义就当是：撒母耳召集全以色列与非利士人争战（比较 1 Samuel 7:5）。但这并非这些话的自然解法；这些话显然属于前文。
这里提及非利士人，将本段叙述与士师记 13-16 章连结起来。既然非利士人的欺压持续了四十年（Judges 13:1），并且似乎在撒母耳的日子、约在他士师职分第二十年时告终（1 Samuel 7:13-14；1 Samuel 7:2）；既然这欺压在参孙出生之前已经开始（Judges 13:5），而参孙“在非利士人管辖的日子”治理以色列二十年（Judges 15:20），那么看来可以推知：以利士师职分的后半段与撒母耳士师职分的初段，必定与参孙在世的日子大体同时。
以便以谢——或作“帮助之石”。这地方是撒母耳后来如此命名的。见边注参考。亚弗（Aphek），意即“堡垒”，大概就是 Joshua 12:18 中的“亚弗”。它位于犹大西面边界一带，离便雅悯的米斯巴不远，靠近示罗（1 Samuel 4:4）。