Ichabod: The glory has departed from Israel

1 Sam. 4:21

Ichabod was the name of Phinehas’ son. Eli the priest had to sons, Hophni and Phinehas who were also priests. The events surrounding the birth of Ichabod is really interesting and contains valuable lessons for us today.

The Israelites had been under the judges for many years. Now, Eli was the priest along with his sons. But Eli did not discipline his sons who committed great sins against the LORD, taking for themselves whatever they want from the offerings of the people. Because of their conduct, the people themselves treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt (1 Sam. 2:17).

This was the period of Samuel’s apprenticeship.

A man of God came to Eli, warning him against the sins of his sons and what will happen to them – they will die on the same day. The man also told Eli that the LORD will raise up a faithful servant who will do what is on the heart of God.

The LORD also revealed the same thing to Samuel saying, “I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them” (1 Sam. 3:13).

Now, the Philistines came and made war against the Israelites. The Israelites lost. Thinking that the LORD would help them if they had the Ark of the  Covenant of the LORD with them, they brought it with them. The LORD did not help them, and the Ark ended up being captured by the Philistines.

In this war, both Hophni and Phinehas were killed and Eli, hearing the death of his sons also fell and broke his neck and died. Phinehas’ wife was about to give birth and, after hearing the news of the death of his husband and her father in law and the capture of the Ark, she gave birth to a son and named him Ichabod.

The name Ichabod means “The glory has departed from Israel.”

1. How important and vital leaders are! The Israelites were defeated because of the sins of Eli and his sons. Likewise, church leaders also need to remember to follow the LORD’s directions in every way.
2. How important fathers are! Eli did not restrain his sons, even after knowing the sins of his children. Punishment came to all of them.
3. How important it is also for the people to fear the LORD. It is dangerous have contempt for the offerings, the church and the LORD.
4. As they were defeated, they thought bringing the Ark would help. It did not. It is also dangerous to pretend that we are following God without really putting our hearts into it. It is not enough to call ouselves ‘Christians’ if we really do not believe in Christ.
5. Even when the family of the priest had been wiped out, God was never at a loss to have people for Himself. He said, “I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind” (1 Sam. 2:35).