The sons of Eli (Hophni are Phinehas) were scoundrels and they had no regard for the Lord. As children of the High priest of Israel, one would expect them to have good attitudes towards God and humanity. However, these two sons just treated everyone and everything with contempt. Even the Lord’s sacrifices were not spared. 1 Samuel 2: 12-16 details their contemptuous practices. To add to their wickedness against the Lord’s sacrifices, these two men were also sleeping with the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting. They were just consumed by sin and pride and would not even listen to their father’s advice. The gravity of their sins and the shame their presence gave to the priesthood was quite unbearable. A man of God came to Eli and confronted him of his sons’ evil attitudes. This was God’s judgement: “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” (1 Samuel 2:30). Considering this background, the wives of Eli’s sons would have been married to scoundrels who had no respect for God and humanity. It would have been difficult to bear the titles of such men as their actions were just despicable to God and men. In the course of time, Israel went to war against the Philistines and in a bid to gain the favour of God, the Israelites took the ark of God to the battlefield. The ark of God represented God’s glory and His presence, and even the enemies were afraid when they heard that the ark had been brought to the battlefield. However, God wasn’t pleased with His people and He left them in the hands of the enemy. The Israelites were routed and defeated mercilessly. Unfortunately, the ark of God was captured by the Philistines. Although the Philistines later returned the ark on their own account based on the brutalization they received as a result of them taking the ark, the Israelites could not believe what happened to them. It wasn’t just about their losses. It was more about the presence and glory of God that was taken away from them. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains. (1 Samuel 4:19) Hophni and Phinehas were killed on the battlefield and the messenger who escaped to tell the news of the defeat of Israel didn’t miss details. Eli the priest was ninety-eight years and his vision was failing. He heard the outcry and upon enquiries, got to know that his sons had been killed and the ark of God had been taken away. “When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.” (1 Samuel 4:18). God’s words in 1 Samuel 2: 27-36 were fulfilled. The wife of Phinehas, the focus of today’s post, was heavily pregnant. Her husband had accompanied the army to fight against the Philistines. She had hoped to see her husband return to hold their new baby but things didn’t turn out that way. The heavily pregnant wife of Phinehas, was near the time of delivery. “When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel 4:19-22). The ark of God might not mean so much to the New Testament believer. However, during those times, the presence of the ark of God signified the glory and the presence of God. Phinehas’ wife knew the consequences of the glory of God departing from Israel. They were on their own. They had no divine direction, protection and guidance. As a baby, Ichabod might not be aware of the weight of his name. Unfortunately for Ichabod his father and grandfather all died and no one changed his name like Benjamin. So, Benjamin, was named Ben-Oni (son of my trouble) by Rachel but Jacob changed it to Benjamin (son of my right hand). Sometimes, situations may feel like seasons of Ichabod. When nothing seems to work, we could go on and give names of despair to our situations or move in faith and shout to our Ebenezer for help (Ebenezer means stone of help). The Lord is indeed our Helper.
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