When I hear the name Ichabod, my first thought is the main character of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. It brings to my mind an image of a gangly, superstitious teacher afraid of his own shadow. Ichabod is one of those names you don’t hear very much, like Judas and Jezebel, because they have come to have a symbolic meaning that parents don’t want to place on their children.
However, as Shakespeare said in Romeo and Juliet, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” While Ichabod’s name has a sad meaning, Ichabod was not destined to have a sad life because of it. Our character defines us and not the name our parents gave us. So, why did she name her son Ichabod?
Why What Does the Name Ichabod Mean?
Ichabod is translated as “no glory” or “inglorious.” At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a very good name for a child, but given the circumstances of his birth, it becomes a little clearer. The Israelites were engaged in battle with the Philistines at Aphek, and Eli’s two sons, Phinehas and Hophni, brought the Ark of the Covenant to the battle because they thought its presence would bring them victory. Instead, the Philistines defeated them and took the Ark of the Covenant. At that moment, the glory of the Lord departed the tabernacle. In 1 Samuel 4:19-22, it says:
“Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, ‘Do not fear, for you have borne a son.’ But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel!’ because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, ‘The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’ ”
In one day, she lost her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law. At the same time, Israel had lost the battle and the Ark of the Covenant. Her son’s birth marked the departure of God’s glory. According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, Ichabod’s name became an important symbol even though little is recorded about his life. How did Ichabod’s family come to this? It started many years earlier.
What Do We Know about Ichabod’s Family and Why Did They Suffer So Much?
Most people are familiar with the story of Hannah, who was childless and cried out to the Lord. When she went to Shiloh for yearly worship and sacrifices to the Lord, Eli was the priest who saw her and thought she was drunk because of her anguish. 1 Samuel 1:3 notes that Eli’s sons, Phinehas and Hophni, were also priests and were present at the time of sacrifices. When Hannah gives birth to a boy named Samuel, she dedicates him to God’s service and leaves him with Eli when he is old enough.
While Samuel strove to serve the Lord and follow His commandments, Phinehas and Eli were corrupt (1 Samuel 2:12-17). They would take not only the generous portion given to the priests but also some of the flesh meant to be enjoyed by the people as part of their worship. The people were willing to let it pass, but they also took away from what was meant to go on the altar, so they reminded the two brothers that it belonged to God. They ignored the warnings and threatened to take the meat by force. The result was the people felt contempt for both the priests and the offering of the Lord.
God did not let this go unnoticed. Eli was a good man and father, and he chastised them about their misuse of their role as priests and lying with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:22). Still, the two refused to repent, so God sent a man of God to prophecy to Eli:
“Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.” (1 Samuel 2:34-35).
Later, the Lord sent a vision through Samuel to Eli:
“For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” (1 Samuel 3:13-14).
In 1 Samuel 4, God’s prophecy is fulfilled as Phinehas and Hophni die in battle together. That same day, Eli falls and dies when he hears the news, followed by Phinehas’ wife’s death during childbirth.
If you only read the verses in 1 Samuel 4:19-22, it seems too much suffering for one family. However, when you know their history, it is clear that these were the consequences of their actions over time. If the two had repented and changed their ways after any of the prophecies or warnings, God most likely would have forgiven them. They were given ample time to change their ways and refused.
What Can We Learn from Ichabod’s Family Today?
Even though the family suffered many losses, God was still gracious and kind because Ichabod lived to be an adult. 1 Samuel 14:3 names Ichabod as the uncle of Ahiah, who was with King Saul and Jonathan with the 600 at Gibeah just before Jonathan’s brave attack on the Philistine garrison.
Hope Bollinger gives positive takeaways from the story of Ichabod in her article “3 Hopeful Truths from the Ichabod Bible Story”:
- God can still move in the lives of broken people.
- Ichabod did not allow his name or family to determine his legacy.
- The Ark of the Covenant does return to Israel eventually.
Out of all the suffering incurred by this family because of their sin and disobedience, what stands out most to me in this story is that Ichabod didn’t let his name define who he was or who he would become. He went on to live a life good enough to warrant a mention in the Bible related to a moment of courage as Jonathan took on the entire garrison with only his armor bearer. That mention was not a coincidence.
I am sure we have all been judged by our family, position, or appearance at some point. People use words that aren’t always pleasant and sometimes downright vile to describe us. Yet, our worth is not determined by what people say, and our future is not determined by their “prophecies.” The only opinion that counts is God’s opinion. We are what God says we are no matter what we look or where we come from because God will use anyone who devotes themselves to Him.
Take an example from Ichabod. Live a life that is pleasing to God and leave the rest to Him.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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