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1 Samuel 4:6
ESV And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,
NIV Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, 'What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?' When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,
NASB And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, 'What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.
CSB The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, "What's this loud shout in the Hebrews' camp? " When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp,
NLT What’s going on?' the Philistines asked. 'What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?' When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived,
KJV And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

What does 1 Samuel 4:6 mean?

The Israelites had sent for the ark of the covenant to be brought to their camp. When it arrived, the tens of thousands gathered there let out a mighty shout (1 Samuel 4:5), revealing how confident they were that the Lord would give them victory over the Philistines. Their confidence, unfortunately, is not because of faith in the Lord, but a superstitious belief that the physical presence of the ark will make their army stronger.

The celebratory yell was so loud that the Philistines, perhaps a half-hour's march away, in their own camp, heard the shout. It may have sounded like the roar heard in a football stadium after a goal has been scored. The Philistines were disturbed. They had won their first skirmish with the Israelite army decisively, killing many soldiers. What could the Hebrews possibly have to cheer about?

Philistine use of the word "Hebrews"—'ibrîm—may have been derogatory at the time, though that is not clear. What is clear is that the Philistines were troubled about the arrival of the ark of God. Perhaps not as worried as the Israelites were excited (1 Samuel 4:7–9) but concerned all the same.
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