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
以色列人敗陣的那天晚上，眾長老聚集商議，決定派人把約櫃運來。經文對約櫃作了完整的描述，暗示他們認為憑着約的功效，神不能不使他們得勝（比較 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
「百姓打發人去」——這措辭很能表明士師記作者屢次指出的政治狀態：「那時以色列中沒有王。」
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
「希伯來人的」——這是以色列人在外邦人中間為人所知的名稱（比較 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
這是非利士人對五經所記事件之真實性的一個值得注意的見證。正如巴勒和耶利哥的人所聽過的一樣（Numbers 22:5；Joshua 2:10），非利士人自然也聽聞過那些事。
「用各樣災殃……」——更當譯作「以各樣的災殃」，意即「以徹底的毀滅」。
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
腳步快捷、能走遠路的信使，是重要而廣為人知的人物（比較 2 Samuel 18:19-31）。戰場上的軍隊中似乎一向有職業跑信者充當傳信人（2 Kings 11:4、2 Kings 11:6、2 Kings 11:19，欽定譯本作「護衛」）。
「頭蒙塵土」——這是極度悲哀的記號。比較頁邊參考經文。
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
「昏花」——更好的譯法是「定住了」。這個詞與 1 Samuel 3:2 譯作「昏花」的詞完全不同。這措辭似乎表達盲眼「呆定」的狀態，不受光線影響。以利的失明使他對聲音格外敏銳，卻使他看不見報惡信者撕裂的衣服和頭上蒙的塵土。
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
比較 2 Samuel 18:4，便可準確說明「門旁」一語的意思以及以利的座位所在。他那沒有靠背的座椅或寶座，側面緊靠城門的門柱安放，使城門的通道完全暢通；但安放的位置使凡經過城門的人，都必須從他面前經過。
「四十年」——這個年代的記載把本書與士師記連繫起來（比較 Judges 3:11 等）。以利四十年士師職任的末期，距離大祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈的死亡有多近，是個耐人尋味卻極難回答的問題。其間至少可能隔了一任大祭司。
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
「離開了」——確切地說，是「被擄去了」。
英文原文
Is departed - Properly, "Is gone into captivity."
22
1 Samuel 4:22
祭司的貪婪與放蕩給教會帶來毀滅——這教訓在此向我們如此有力地陳明，並且在猶太人和基督徒中間一再得到印證——實在太嚴肅、太重要，不容忽視。當聖潔的榮耀離開一個本應聖潔的群體時，神同在的榮耀便已離去，祂保護的外在憑據也可料想即將同樣離開（比較 Ezekiel 10:18；Ezekiel 11:23；Revelation 2:5）。然而，個別的會眾雖可能傾覆，我們主對祂子民的應許卻永不落空（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.
有些人把本節開首的話附於 1 Samuel 3 章末尾，視為那裏所述內容的補足：「耶和華在示羅向撒母耳顯現……撒母耳的話傳遍以色列眾人。」若把這些話置於 1 Samuel 4 章的開頭，並與隨後的敘述相連，就當理解為撒母耳召集全以色列與非利士人爭戰（比較 1 Samuel 7:5）。但這並非這些話的自然解釋；這些話看來分明屬於前文。
提及非利士人，把這段敘事與士師記 13-16 章連在一起。既然非利士人的轄制持續了四十年（Judges 13:1），而其終結看來是在撒母耳的日子，即他士師職分約第二十年時（1 Samuel 7:13-14；比較 1 Samuel 7:2）；又既然這轄制在參孫出生之前已經開始（Judges 13:5），而參孫「在非利士人轄制的日子」作以色列的士師二十年（Judges 15:20），那麼似乎可以推論：以利士師職分的後期，與撒母耳士師職分的早期，必與參孫在世的年日大致同時。
「以便以謝」（意即「幫助之石」）——這地方是後來由撒母耳如此命名的。見邊註串珠。「亞弗」，即「堡壘」，大概就是 Joshua 12:18 所記的「亞弗」。它應位於猶大西面的邊界一帶，離便雅憫的米斯巴不遠，並靠近示羅（1 Samuel 4:4）。