וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃ (פ)
Pembawa kabar itu menjawab, “Israel telah melarikan diri dari hadapan orang Filistin, dan telah terjadi juga kekalahan besar di antara rakyat. Kedua anakmu juga, Hofni dan Pinehas, telah mati, dan tabut Allah telah dirampas.”
Devarim Rabbah
Another interpretation, “I will install a king over me” – the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘In this world, you requested kings, and the kings of Israel arose and caused you to be felled by the sword.’ Saul caused them to be felled on Mount Gilboa. From where is this learned? “Israel has fled before the Philistines…” (I Samuel 4:17). David brought about a plague, as it is stated: “The Lord sent pestilence in Israel” (II Samuel 24:15). Ahab caused the rain to stop falling for them, as it is stated: “There will not be dew or rain during these years…” (I Kings 17:1). Zedekiah caused the Temple to be destroyed. When Israel saw what befell them under the rule of their kings, they all began crying out: ‘We do not want a king of Israel, we want our original King: “For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us”’ (Isaiah 33:22). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘By your lives, I will do so.’ From where is this derived? “The Lord will be King over the entire earth…” (Zechariah 14:9).
Aggadat Bereshit
[3] Another interpretation: "'For the Lord has visited' (Genesis 50:24) refers to Pharaoh the First, as it says, 'And the Lord struck Pharaoh' (Genesis 12:17). 'And I have brought down the high tree' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Abraham, who was raised up, as it says, 'Listen to me, my lord' (Genesis 23:8). 'I have dried up the green tree' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Abimelech, as it says, 'For the Lord had completely stopped up' (Genesis 20:18). 'I have made the dry tree flourish' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Sarah. 'I am the Lord, I have spoken and I will do it' (Ezekiel 17:24). 'And the Lord visited Sarah' (Genesis 21:1). 'And all the trees of the field shall know' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Samuel, as it says, 'And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew' (1 Samuel 3:20). 'I have brought down the high tree' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to the sons of Eli, as it says, 'On the same day both of them died' (1 Samuel 4:17). 'I have made the low tree high' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Samuel, as it says, 'And the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord' (1 Samuel 3:1). And it also says, 'And the boy Samuel continued to grow and become better' (1 Samuel 2:26). Concerning him it is said, 'He will find favor and good understanding' (Proverbs 3:4). "Another interpretation is that 'I have made the low tree high' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Hannah. 'I have dried up the green tree' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Peninah, as it is written, 'But she had no children and was miserable' (1 Samuel 2:5). 'I have made the dry tree flourish' (Ezekiel 17:24) refers to Hannah, as it says, 'For the Lord had visited Hannah' (1 Samuel 2:21). 'And the boy Samuel continued to grow with the Lord' (1 Samuel 2:21). David said, 'Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together' (Psalms 34:4)."
Sifrei Devarim
(Devarim 20:9) "And it shall be, when the officers finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders at the head of the people," and at the rear of the people. Sentinels armed with iron staves are posted before and behind them with the authority to "cripple" all who desire to flee, for the beginning of defeat is flight, as it is written (I Samuel 4:17) "Israel fled before the Philistines, and a great 'plague' overtook the people." When is this so? (that all of the aforementioned return?) In an optional war; but in a mandatory war, all go out, even a groom from his chamber and a bride from her bridal canopy.