The word “Ichabod” literally means “no glory” in Hebrew. Phinehas named her son “Ichabod” because the glory of God left Israel. Even before the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines from the Isrealites, 1 Sam 3:1 says that the glory of God was already departing from Israel: “In those days, the word of God was rarely heard; visions were very few.” Notice: first, God was quiet (1 Sam 3:1); then, He was completely gone (1 Sam 4:21-22).
Tungkol po kay Samuel ang ating unang pagbasa. Sa aking pag-aaral ng wikang Hebreo, ang wika ng Lumang Tipan, ang ibig sabihin po ng “shemu-el” ay “dinggin si Elohim” (listen to the Almighty or listen to God).