1. 1 Samuel 4:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What would the Israelites and Philistines have concluded from the battle defeat?

1 Samuel 4:11 (ESV)

11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

With the ark having been captured, the people of the time (both Israelites and Philistines) would have concluded that the Lord had been defeated by the gods of the Philistines.1 That is to say, the gods of the Philistines were stronger than the Lord.2