Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
Israel has just confessed its sin at Mizpah, and the answer from outside is an invading army. Commentators see a lesson here: the enemy stirs when repentance is real, and fear can be a better sign than confidence.
Why the attack came now
Israel had lived twenty years under idolatry without much interference.
C KnappWhile Israel served "strange gods and Ashtaroth," the Philistines left them alone. But as soon as their reformation begins, everything changes, and the Philistines come up against Israel, led by their lords. Satan could not watch a scene like this in silence. He would not stand by and let such a state of things continue. He had to make a determined effort to break it up. His goods are at peace only "when the strong man armed keeps his palace." Let someone invade his land or break into his house. Let the truth work on hearts and disturb the peace of his goods. Then he roars at once, and his hand falls. War will follow. But war is far better than peace in the state of soul Israel had been in — twenty years of serving strange gods and Ashtaroth.
The Philistines may have misread the gathering as a military build-up.
William KellyThe Philistines may have thought Israel's aim in gathering was political — just a mustering for battle, an effort to win independence. But Satan knew better what it meant, and could not rest. Of one thing I am sure. Suppose his Philistine instruments had grasped the meaning of that act, which broke Israel down before God. It would have been far more terrible for the enemy of Israel than any gathering for war.
Fear as evidence of recovery
Twenty years earlier the same two nations met, and the fear ran the other way.
Hamilton SmithThe children of Israel have learned something of their own weakness, so they are rightly "afraid of the Philistines" (verse 7). Twenty years before, they met the Philistines while away from God and confident in the flesh. Israel took the offensive then and "went out against the Philistines to battle" (1 Sam. 4:1). Now that Israel is restored to the Lord, we read, "The Philistines went up against Israel." On that earlier day Israel was confident in themselves. They "shouted with a great shout" and "the Philistines were afraid." Now Israel distrusts itself and is "afraid," and the confidence of the flesh sits with the lords of the Philistines.
Another writer weighs this fear against Israel's earlier confidence.
H. L. RossierThe people have now felt their own weakness, so they are terrified. They do not yet have the assurance that God is for them. In one sense this fear is no doubt wretched, but it is good to see it on the path of restoration. Isn't it better than the "great shout" Israel had raised earlier, which made the earth tremble?
What they reach for now
After the earlier defeat, Israel had sent for the ark. This time they ask for something else, and one writer finds the change in a single pronoun.
W. W. FeredayAfter their first defeat in Eli's day they said, "Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies." Now they appeal to Samuel: "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, so that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines." There is a gulf of difference between "it" and "He." What is more, they now say "the LORD our God." They have at last recovered the sense of relationship with Him.
How weak faith is handled
The prophet's response to their alarm is as instructive as the alarm itself.
C KnappIsrael fears the Philistines. Their faith was still weak, so they ask Samuel to pray for them... Samuel does not scold them for their fears, nor rebuke them for their lack of faith. He knows their weakness, and he plays the noble part of a father caring for a small child.
Summary
- Peace ended. Twenty years of idolatry went unchallenged. Their return to God brought war — and that war is better than the old peace.
- Motive misread. The Philistines may have seen an army forming, but the real alarm was a people broken down before God.
- Roles swapped. At the earlier battle Israel shouted and the Philistines trembled. Now Israel trembles, and the confidence sits with the enemy.
- Fear reframed. The terror is wretched in itself, yet it belongs to the road back. Self-distrust has replaced self-confidence.
- "It" became "He." They no longer send for the ark to save them. They ask the Lord their God to save them, and Samuel meets their weak faith without a word of rebuke.