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The Philistines were scared because they thought that gods had come to the camp.[a] They said, “Woe to us! We’ve never seen anything like this! Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert! Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:7 tn The Hebrew text has a direct quote, “because they said, ‘Gods have come to the camp.’” Even though the verb translated “have come” is singular, the following subject should be taken as plural (“gods”), as v. 8 indicates. Some emend the verb to a plural form.

the Philistines were afraid.(A) “A god has[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck(B) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues(C) in the wilderness. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they(D) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:7 Or “Gods have (see Septuagint)