The Fear of the Lord
Questions for Study 2

1 Samuel 4:1-7:1
Key Verse: 6:20

AFTER ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMMENTARY.

I. The Glory Has Departed (4:1-22)

1. Who were the Philistines? (Judges 3:1-6; 1 Sam. 13:19-20; 17:1-4) What happened when the Israelites went out to fight them?

2. What did the Israelites decided to do in their desperation? (3-4) Why? What did the ark of the Lord's covenant mean to the Israelites? (Exodus 25:8-22; Dt. 31:9; Jos. 3:3:14-17)

3. When the ark came into the Israelites camp, how did the people respond? How did the Philistines react? Who won the battle? (10-11) Why? What was wrong with using the ark in this way?

4. What was the news that was brought to Eli? What happened to him when he heard it? What happened to his daughter-in-law? Why did she name her son Ichabod?

II. The Lord is Against Ashdod and Ekron (5:1-12)

5. Where did the captured ark end up? (1-2) Why would they put it there? What does this show about the Philistines understanding of the Lord God?

6. What happened twice to their idol, Dragon? (3-5) Why did this happen? Why did they get tumors? (6) How did the Philistines react? What happened at Gath? What was the God of Israel to the Ekronites? (9-12) Who is he to you?

III. The Ark Goes Back to Israel (6:1-7:1)

7. Why shows the Philistines change of heart? (1-2) What were they told was needed? (3) Why did they sent the gold tumors and gold rats? (4-6, 17-18) What did they learn about God?

8. Why did they use two cows with calves? (7-9) What happened proving the nature of the God of Israel? (10-12) Who saw this? (16) What can we learn?

9. When the ark was seen how did Israel react? (13-15) What happened to the Israelites who did not respect the ark of the Lord? (19) What was done with the ark after this? (6:21-7:1) Why? (6:20)