Berean Standard Bible

1 Samuel 4

1Thus the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to allלְכָל־le.kholH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.Now the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵל֩Yis.ra.'ElH3478went outוַיֵּצֵ֣אvai.ye.Tze'H3318to meetלִקְרַ֨אתlik.RatH7122the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜יםpe.lish.TimH6430in battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֗הla.mil.cha.MahH4421and campedוַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙vai.ya.cha.NuH2583atעַל־'al-H5921EbenezerH72,while the Philistinesוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםu.fe.lish.TimH6430campedחָנ֥וּcha.NuH2583at Aphekבַאֲפֵֽק׃va.'a.FekH663.

2The Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֜יםfe.lish.TimH6430arrayed themselvesוַיַּעַרְכ֨וּvai.ya.'ar.KhuH6186againstלִקְרַ֣אתlik.RatH7122Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and as the battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֔הha.mil.cha.MahH4421spreadוַתִּטֹּשׁ֙va.ti.ToshH5203,Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478was defeatedוַיִּנָּ֥גֶףvai.yi.Na.gefH5062byלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםfe.lish.TimH6430,who struck downוַיַּכּ֤וּvai.ya.KuH5221about fourכְּאַרְבַּ֥עַתke.'ar.Ba.'atH702thousandאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505menאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376on the battlefieldבַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔הva.ma.'a.ra.Khah ba.sa.DehH4634 H7704.

3When the troopsהָעָם֮ha.'AmH5971returnedוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935toאֶל־'el-H413the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ha.ma.cha.NehH4264,the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478askedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whyלָ֣מָּהLa.mahH4100has the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068brought defeat on usנְגָפָ֧נוּne.ga.Fa.nuH5062beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםfe.lish.TimH6430todayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117?Let us bringנִקְחָ֧ה אֵלֵ֣ינוּnik.Chah 'e.Lei.nuH3947 H413the arkאֲרוֹן֙'a.rOnH727of the covenantבְּרִ֣יתbe.RitH1285of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068from Shilohמִשִּׁלֹ֗הmi.shi.LohH7887אֶת־'et-H853,so that it may goוְיָבֹ֣אve.ya.Vo'H935with usבְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּve.kir.Be.nuH7130to save usוְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּve.yo.shi.'E.nuH3467from the handמִכַּ֥ףmi.KafH3709of our enemiesאֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃'o.ye.Vei.nuH341.”

4So the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971mento Shilohשִׁלֹ֔הshi.LohH7887,and they broughtוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375backמִשָּׁ֗םmi.ShamH8033אֵ֣ת'etH853the arkאֲר֧וֹן'a.RonH727of the covenantבְּרִית־be.rit-H1285of the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068of Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otH6635,who sits enthronedיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427between the cherubimהַכְּרֻבִ֑יםha.ke.ru.VimH3742.And the twoשְׁנֵ֣יshe.NeiH8147sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Eliעֵלִ֗י'e.LiH5941,Hophniחָפְנִ֖יcha.fe.NiH2652and Phinehasוּפִֽינְחָֽס׃u.Fi.ne.ChasH6372,were thereוְשָׁ֞םve.ShamH8033withעִם־'im-H5973the arkאֲרוֹן֙'a.rOnH727of the covenantבְּרִ֣יתbe.RitH1285of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.

5Whenוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961the arkאֲר֤וֹן'a.RonH727of the covenantבְּרִית־be.rit-H1285of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068enteredכְּב֨וֹא אֶל־ke.Vo' 'el-H935 H413the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הha.ma.cha.NehH4264,allכָל־khol-H3605the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478raisedגְדוֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419such a greatתְּרוּעָ֣הte.ru.'AhH8643shoutוַיָּרִ֥עוּvai.ya.Ri.'uH7321that the groundהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776shookוַתֵּהֹ֖םva.te.HomH1949.

6On hearingוַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085the noiseק֣וֹלKolH6963of the shoutהַתְּרוּעָ֔הha.te.ru.'AhH8643,the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.TimH6430אֶת־'et-H853askedוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “What isמֶ֠ה ק֣וֹלmeh KolH4100 H6963thisהַזֹּ֖אתha.ZotH2063loudהַגְּדוֹלָ֛הha.ge.do.LahH1419shoutingהַתְּרוּעָ֧הha.te.ru.'AhH8643in the campבְּמַחֲנֵ֣הbe.ma.cha.NehH4264of the Hebrewsהָעִבְרִ֑יםha.'iv.RimH5680?”And when they realizedוַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּvai.Ye.de.'UH3045thatכִּ֚יkiH3588the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068had enteredבָּ֖א אֶל־ba' 'el-H935 H413the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃Ha.ma.cha.NehH4264,

7the Philistinesהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםha.pe.lish.TimH6430were afraidוַיִּֽרְאוּ֙vai.yir.'UH3372כִּ֣יkiH3588. “The godsאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430have enteredבָּ֥א אֶל־ba' 'el-H935 H413their campאָמְר֔וּ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה'a.me.Ru ha.ma.cha.NehH4264 H559!”they saidוַיֹּאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559. “Woeא֣וֹי'oH188to us,forכִּ֣יkiH3588nothingלֹ֥אlo'H3808like thisכָּזֹ֖אתka.ZotH2063has happenedהָיְתָ֛הha.ye.TahH1961beforeאֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃'et.Mol shil.ShomH865 H8032.

8Woeא֣וֹי'oH188to us!Whoמִ֣יmiH4310will deliver usיַצִּילֵ֔נוּya.tzi.Le.nuH5337from the handמִיַּ֛דmi.YadH3027of theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.lehH428mightyהָאַדִּירִ֖יםha.'a.di.RimH117godsהָאֱלֹהִ֥יםha.'E.lo.HimH430?Theseאֵ֧לֶּה הֵ֣ם'E.leh hemH428 H1992are the godsהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430who struckהַמַּכִּ֧יםha.ma.KimH5221אֶת־'et-H853the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֛יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714with all kindsבְּכָל־be.kholH3605of plaguesמַכָּ֖הma.KahH4347in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ba.mid.BarH4057.

9Take courageהִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּhit.cha.ze.KuH2388and beוִֽהְי֤וּvih.YuH1961menלַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙la.'a.na.ShimH582,O Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430!Otherwiseפֶּ֚ןpenH6435,you will serveתַּעַבְד֣וּta.'av.DuH5647the Hebrewsלָעִבְרִ֔יםla.'iv.RimH5680just asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834they servedעָבְד֖וּ'a.ve.DuH5647you.Now beוִהְיִיתֶ֥םvih.yi.TemH1961menלַאֲנָשִׁ֖יםla.'a.na.ShimH582and fightוְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃ve.nil.cham.TemH3898!”

10So the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.TimH6430foughtוַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּvai.yi.la.cha.MuH3898,and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478was defeatedוַיִּנָּ֤גֶףvai.yi.Na.gefH5062,and each manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376fledוַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙vai.ya.Nu.suH5127to his tentלְאֹהָלָ֔יוle.'o.ha.LavH168.The slaughterהַמַּכָּ֖הha.ma.KahH4347wasוַתְּהִ֥יva.te.HiH1961veryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966greatגְּדוֹלָ֣הge.do.LahH1419—thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםshe.lo.ShimH7970thousandאֶ֖לֶף'E.lefH505foot soldiersרַגְלִֽי׃rag.LiH7273of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478fellוַיִּפֹּל֙vai.yi.PolH5307.

11The arkוַאֲר֥וֹןva.'a.RonH727of Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430was capturedנִלְקָ֑חnil.KachH3947,and Eli’sעֵלִי֙'e.LiH5941twoוּשְׁנֵ֤יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121,Hophniחָפְנִ֖יcha.fe.NiH2652and Phinehasוּפִֽינְחָֽס׃u.Fi.ne.ChasH6372,diedמֵ֔תוּMe.tuH4191.

The Death of Eli

12That sameהַה֑וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117a Benjamiteאִישׁ־ בִּנְיָמִן֙'ish- bin.ya.MinH1144 H376ranוַיָּ֤רָץvai.Ya.rotzH7323from the battle lineמֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔הme.ha.Ma.'a.ra.KhahH4634all the wayוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Shilohשִׁלֹ֖הshi.LohH7887,with his clothesוּמַדָּ֣יוu.ma.DavH4055tornקְרֻעִ֔יםke.ru.'ImH7167and dirtוַאֲדָמָ֖הva.'a.da.MahH127onעַל־'al-H5921his headרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ro.ShoH7218.

13When he arrivedוַיָּב֗וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935,thereוְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.NehH2009was Eliעֵ֠לִי'E.liH5941,sittingיֹשֵׁ֨בyo.ShevH3427onעַֽל־'al-H5921his chairהַכִּסֵּ֜אha.ki.Se'H3678besideH3197the roadדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙de.rekhH1870andwatchingמְצַפֶּ֔הme.tza.PehH6822,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588his heartלִבּוֹ֙li.BoH3820trembledהָיָ֤ה חָרֵ֔דha.Yah cha.RedH1961 H2730forעַ֖ל'alH5921the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.When the manוְהָאִ֗ישׁve.ha.'IshH376enteredבָּ֚אba'H935the cityבָּעִ֔ירba.'IrH5892to give a reportלְהַגִּ֣ידle.ha.GidH5046,the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִֽיר׃ha.'IrH5892cried outוַתִּזְעַ֖קva.tiz.'AkH2199.

14Eliעֵלִי֙'e.LiH5941אֶת־'et-H853heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֤עvai.yish.Ma'H8085the outcryק֣וֹל הַצְּעָקָ֔הKol ha.tze.'a.KahH6963 H6818and askedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whyמֶ֛ה ק֥וֹלmeh KolH4100 H6963thisהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088commotionהֶהָמ֖וֹןhe.ha.MonH1995?”So the manוְהָאִ֣ישׁve.ha.'IshH376hurried overמִהַ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֖אmi.Har vai.ya.Vo'H4116 H935and reportedוַיַּגֵּ֥דvai.ya.GedH5046to Eliלְעֵלִֽי׃le.'e.LiH5941.

15Now Eliוְעֵלִ֕יve.'e.LiH5941was ninety-eightתִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖הtish.'Im u.she.mo.NehH8673 H8083years oldבֶּן־ שָׁנָ֑הben- sha.NahH1121 H8141,and his gazeוְעֵינָ֣יוve.'ei.NavH5869was fixedקָ֔מָהKa.mahH6965because he could notוְלֹ֥א יָכ֖וֹלve.Lo' ya.KholH3808 H3201seeלִרְאֽוֹת׃lir.'otH7200.

16“Iאָֽנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiH595have just comeהַבָּ֣אha.Ba'H935fromמִן־min-H4480the battleהַמַּעֲרָכָ֔הha.ma.'a.ra.KhahH4634,”the manהָאִ֜ישׁha.'IshH376saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Eliעֵלִ֗י'e.LiH5941. “Iוַאֲנִ֕יva.'a.NiH589fledנַ֣סְתִּיNas.tiH5127fromמִן־min-H4480there todayהַמַּעֲרָכָ֖ה הַיּ֑וֹםha.ma.'a.ra.Khah hai.YomH4634 H3117.” “Whatמֶֽה־meh-H4100happenedהָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖רha.Yah ha.da.VarH1961 H1697,my sonבְּנִֽי׃be.NiH1121?”Eli askedוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559.

17The messengerהַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶרham.va.Ser vai.Yo.merH1319 H559answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030, “Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478has fledנָ֤סnasH5127beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.TimH6430,andוְגַ֛םve.GamH1571there has beenהָיְתָ֣הha.ye.TahH1961a greatגְדוֹלָ֖הge.do.LahH1419slaughterמַגֵּפָ֥הma.ge.FahH4046among the peopleבָעָ֑ם וְגַם־va.'Am ve.gam-H5971 H1571.Your twoשְׁנֵ֨יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֜יךָva.Nei.khaH1121,Hophniחָפְנִי֙cha.fe.NiH2652and Phinehasוּפִ֣ינְחָ֔סu.Fin.ChasH6372,are both deadמֵ֗תוּMe.tuH4191,and the arkוַאֲר֥וֹןva.'a.RonH727of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has been capturedנִלְקָֽחָה׃ פnil.Ka.chahH3947.”

18As soon asוַיְהִ֞יvay.HiH1961אֶת־'et-H853the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430was mentionedכְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ׀ke.haz.ki.RoH2142,Eli fellוַיִּפֹּ֣לvai.yi.PolH5307backwardאֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית בְּעַ֣ד׀'a.Cho.ra.Nit be.'AdH322 H1157fromמֵֽעַל־me.'al-H5921his chairהַ֠כִּסֵּאHa.ki.se'H3678byיַ֣דyadH3027the city gateהַשַּׁ֗עַרha.Sha.'arH8179,and beingכִּֽי־ki-H3588הָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376oldזָקֵ֥ןza.KenH2204and heavyוְכָבֵ֑דve.kha.VedH3515,he brokeוַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤רva.ti.sha.VerH7665his neckמַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙maf.rak.ToH4665and diedוַיָּמֹ֔תvai.ya.MotH4191.Andוְה֛וּאve.Hu'H1931Elihad judgedשָׁפַ֥טsha.FatH8199אֶת־'et-H853Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478fortyאַרְבָּעִ֥ים'ar.ba.'ImH705yearsשָׁנָֽה׃sha.NahH8141.

19Now Eli’s daughter-in-lawוְכַלָּת֣וֹve.kha.la.ToH3618,the wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802of Phinehasפִּינְחָס֮pi.ne.ChasH6372,was pregnantהָרָ֣הha.RahH2030and about to give birthלָלַת֒la.LatH3205.When she heardוַתִּשְׁמַ֣עva.tish.Ma'H8085אֶת־'et-H853the newsהַשְּׁמֻעָ֔הha.she.mu.'AhH8052ofאֶל־'el-H413the captureהִלָּקַח֙hi.la.KachH3947of God’sהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727and the deathsוּמֵ֥תu.MetH4191of her father-in-lawחָמִ֖יהָcha.Mi.haH2524and her husbandוְאִישָׁ֑הּve.'i.ShahH376,she collapsedוַתִּכְרַ֣עva.tikh.Ra'H3766and gave birthוַתֵּ֔לֶדva.Te.ledH3205,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588her labor painsצִרֶֽיהָ׃tzi.Rei.haH6735overtookנֶהֶפְכ֥וּne.hef.KhuH2015herעָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921.

20Asוּכְעֵ֣תu.khe.'EtH6256she was dyingמוּתָ֗הּmu.TahH4191,the women attendingהַנִּצָּב֣וֹתha.ni.tza.VotH5324to herעָלֶ֔יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921saidוַתְּדַבֵּ֙רְנָה֙va.te.da.Be.re.nahH1696, “Do notאַל־'al-H408be afraidתִּֽירְאִ֖יtir.'IH3372,forכִּ֣יkiH3588you have given birth toיָלָ֑דְתְּya.La.detH3205a sonבֵ֣ןvenH1121!”But she did notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808respondעָנְתָ֖ה וְלֹא־'a.ne.Tah ve.lo'-H6030 H3808or pay any heedשָׁ֥תָה לִבָּֽהּ׃Sha.tah li.BahH7896 H3820.

21And she namedוַתִּקְרָ֣אva.tik.Ra'H7121the boyלַנַּ֗עַרla.Na.'arH5288IchabodH350,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “The gloryכָב֖וֹדkha.VodH3519has departedגָּלָ֥הga.LahH1540from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,”becauseאֶל־'el-H413the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430had been capturedהִלָּקַח֙hi.la.KachH3947andוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413her father-in-lawחָמִ֖יהָcha.Mi.haH2524and her husband had been killedוְאִישָֽׁהּ׃ve.'i.ShahH376.

22“The gloryכָב֖וֹדkha.VodH3519has departedגָּלָ֥הga.LahH1540from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,”she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “forכִּ֥יkiH3588the arkאֲר֥וֹן'a.RonH727of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פha.'E.lo.HimH430has been capturedנִלְקַ֖חnil.KachH3947.”

The Death of Eli

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4