Ichabod means either: no glory, or: where is the glory? It is a reference to the fact that the ark of the Lord had been taken from Shiloh and had left Israel. Glory represents the presence of the Lord dwelling in the tabernacle (Psalm 26:8; Exodus 25:8; Exodus 29:44–46; Deuteronomy 5:24).1 With the departure of the ark, the glory of the Lord had also departed (cf. Exodus 40:34–38; Ezekiel 10:1–22; 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 106:19–22).2 The glory (special presence) of the Lord departed not because the ark was captured, but rather the ark was captured because the glory of the Lord departed.3 In driving away the presence of the Lord, Israel opened the door to being driven from the land (Deuteronomy 28:63; Deuteronomy 29:27–28).4
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.