"When the army went out to battle, Eli, blind and old, had tarried at Shiloh. It was with troubled forebodings that he awaited the result of the conflict; “for his heart trembled for the ark of God.” Taking his position outside the gate of the tabernacle, he sat by the highway side day after day, anxiously expecting the arrival of a messenger from the battlefield. PP 585.1"
"And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out."
The EGW passage directly quotes and elaborates on the description of Eli's anxious waiting for news of the battle and his concern for the Ark of God, as described in 1 Samuel 4:13.
"At length a Benjamite from the army, “with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head,” came hurrying up the ascent leading to the city. Passing heedlessly the aged man beside the way, he rushed on to the town, and repeated to eager throngs the tidings of defeat and loss. PP 585.2"
"It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance."
Both passages describe a messenger arriving with clothes rent and earth upon his head to signify defeat. While the specific details differ (one from Saul's camp, the other from the battle with the Philistines), the shared imagery and function of the messenger create a clear thematic parallel.
"caused her death. She felt that the last hope of Israel was gone; and she named the child born in this hour of adversity, Ichabod, or “inglorious;” with her dying breath mournfully repeating the words, “The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.” PP 585.4"
"And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."
EGW directly quotes 1 Samuel 4:22.
"But the Lord had not wholly cast aside His people, nor would He long suffer the exultation of the heathen. He had used the Philistines as the instrument to punish Israel, and He employed the ark to punish the Philistines. In time past the divine Presence had attended it, to be the strength and glory of His obedient people. That invisible Presence would still attend it, to bring terror and destruction to the transgressors of His holy law. The Lord often employs His bitterest enemies to punish the unfaithfulness of His professed people. The wicked may triumph for a time as they see Israel suffering chastisement, but the time will come when they, too, must meet the sentence of a holy, sin-hating God. Whenever iniquity is cherished, there, swift and unerring, the divine judgments will follow. PP 585.5"
"O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation."
Both passages discuss God using other nations as instruments of punishment. Isaiah 10:5 speaks of Assyria as God's rod of anger, while EGW speaks of the Philistines as instruments to punish Israel. The connection is thematic and meaningful.
"Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction."
Both passages touch on the idea of God using other nations for judgment and correction. Habakkuk 1:12 speaks of God ordaining them for judgment, while EGW speaks of God using the Philistines to punish Israel. The connection is thematic.