1 Samuel 4

Mercy Seat

So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 1 Samuel 4:4

The Lord's presence dwelt above the mercy seat, between the gold cherubim on the ark, where atoning blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. It points to Jesus Christ, through whom God meets us in mercy.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Exodus 25:22 — 'I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony' — verified; this is the place v. 4 names.
• a type of what is in Romans 3:25 — 'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood' — verified; the Greek noun is hilasterion, the Septuagint word for the mercy seat.

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, commander of the armies of heaven

So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 1 Samuel 4:4

The ark belongs to Jehovah, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah puts that same title and Israel's Redeemer side by side in one sentence, so the title belongs to Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in Isaiah 54:5 — 'the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel' — verified verbatim.