And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh: the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh with the word of the LORD (וַיֹּסֶף ה׳ לְהֵרָאֹה בְשִׁלֹה כִּי־נִגְלָה ה׳ אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל בְּשִׁלֹה בִּדְבַר ה׳) / and Samuel’s word went forth to all Israel. Israel marched out to engage the Philistines in battle; they encamped near Eben-ezer, while the Philistines encamped at Aphek (וַיְהִי דְּבַר־שְׁמוּאֵל לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל לִקְרַאת פְּלִשְׁתִּים לַמִּלְחָמָה וַיַּחֲנוּ עַל־הָאֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר וּפְלִשְׁתִּים חָנוּ בַאֲפֵק)” (3:21 and 4:1). What is the connection between these two verses? The chapter breaks this after “the word of the Lord,” but should the break be after “all of Israel”? Rashi explains that “and Samuel’s word went forth to all of Israel” means that Samuel’s prophecy about the dark days ahead for the nation and Eli came true throughout Israel. This was accomplished by Israel marching to engage the Philistines. Basically, Shmuel did not instruct them to fight in the battle, instead the battle was the fulfillment of his prophecy. Radak is more direct. Shmuel directed the people to go to battle because this would be the way that the God’s word would come true. This interpretation is dark with the implication that Shmuel sent the nation into a battle that was doomed from the start. Abarbanel disagrees with Radak for this very reason. If Shmuel sent them to this battle they would think he was a false prophet! Abarbanel agrees with Rashi’s interpretation. According to the Ralbag, these two verses are meant to show a contrast. Shmuel’s prophetic prowess was well known in all of Israel, and yet, the nation went to war without asking him. The utter disregard for the word of God is what lead to defeat in battle and the capture of the Ark. Ralbag’s juxtaposition works with the rest of the chapter as well. Shmuel is not mentioned again. The people themselves control the events. They decide on their own to bring the Ark into battle. They collect it from the Mishkan where Eli and Shmuel are located and yet they do not ask if they should. But this begs the question, why didn’t Eli or Shmuel try to stop them from taking the Aron? Perhaps this open question means that Radak’s dark view could also match the text.