Although Phinehas, the son of Eli, was a corrupt priest, his wife put the glory of Israel first in her thinking, for when she heard that the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, and that the Philistines had killed her husband, and that her father-in-law died also, she began to give birth.

However, she had no spirit in her, and she gave up living. Not even the prospect of a new baby could revive her spirit.

After she gave birth, she named her son, but notice the name she gave to her son, showing her primary concern,

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” (1 Samuel 4.19–22).

We are sad to read of her death, but her primary concern should be our primary concern, the glory of God’s people, which is spiritual Israel, the church.