What does 1 Samuel 4:5 mean?

The Israelites were convinced that the presence of the "ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 4:4) would give them the victory over the Philistines. Popular culture, such as the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, implies the ark was a weaponized physical conduit for God's power. This incident in the book of 1 Samuel shows Israel wallowing in that kind of superstition, but without success. Other than a handful of times when God wanted the ark present at a battle, the ark was not a tool intended for conquest (Numbers 10:35–36).

The reaction to the ark's arrival in the camp reveals just how convinced Israel was of this false idea. Tens of thousands of Israelites shout so loud the land shakes, and perhaps even echoes and adds to the noise. Anyone who has been to a large sporting event can imagine the sound.

Unfortunately, the Israelites were placing their confidence in the ark itself. They were relying on a supposed magic item—a talisman, or a lucky charm—instead of trusting in the God who met them there. They had reduced the Lord to the level of the gods of the other nations. Pagan deities are often manipulated, bribed, or commanded by those who worshiped them. If the Israelites had truly been trusting in the Lord, they would have repented from their sins and asked for His help instead of assuming that He was bound to give them victory simply because they brought His ark closer to the field of battle.