1 Samuel 4

1Thus the wordH1697 of SamuelH8050 cameH1961 to allH3605 IsraelH3478.

Now the IsraelitesH3478 went outH3318 to meetH7122 the PhilistinesH6430 in battleH4421 and campedH2583 atH5921 EbenezerH72, while the PhilistinesH6430 campedH2583 at AphekH663. 2The PhilistinesH6430 arrayed themselvesH6186 againstH7122 IsraelH3478, and as the battleH4421 spreadH5203, IsraelH3478 was defeatedH5062 byH6440 the PhilistinesH6430, who struck downH5221 about fourH702 thousandH505 menH376 on the battlefieldH4634H7704.

3When the troopsH5971 returnedH935 toH413 the campH4264, the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 askedH559, “WhyH4100 has the LORDH3068 brought defeat on usH5062 beforeH6440 the PhilistinesH6430 todayH3117? Let us bringH3947H413 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 from ShilohH7887, so that it may goH9351 with usH7130 to save usH3467 from the handH3709 of our enemiesH341.”

4So the peopleH5971 sentH7971 men to ShilohH7887, and they broughtH5375 backH8033 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, who sits enthronedH3427 between the cherubimH3742. And the twoH8147 sonsH1121 of EliH5941, HophniH2652 and PhinehasH6372, were thereH8033 withH5973 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of GodH430.

5WhenH1961 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 enteredH935H413 the campH4264, allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 raisedH1419 such a greatH8643 shoutH7321 that the groundH776 shookH1949.

6On hearingH8085 the noiseH6963 of the shoutH8643, the PhilistinesH6430 askedH559, “What isH4100H6963 thisH2063 loudH1419 shoutingH8643 in the campH4264 of the HebrewsH5680?”

And when they realizedH3045 thatH3588 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068 had enteredH935H413 the campH4264, 7the PhilistinesH6430 were afraidH3372. “The godsH430 have enteredH935H4132 their campH4264H559!” they saidH559. “WoeH188 to us, forH3588 nothingH3808 like thisH2063 has happenedH1961 beforeH865H8032. 8WoeH188 to us! WhoH4310 will deliver usH5337 from the handH3027 of theseH428 mightyH117 godsH430? TheseH428H1992 are the godsH430 who struckH5221 the EgyptiansH4714 with all kindsH3605 of plaguesH4347 in the wildernessH4057. 9Take courageH2388 and beH1961 menH582, O PhilistinesH6430! OtherwiseH6435, you will serveH5647 the HebrewsH5680 just asH834 they servedH5647 you. Now beH1961 menH582 and fightH3898!”

10So the PhilistinesH6430 foughtH3898, and IsraelH3478 was defeatedH5062, and each manH376 fledH5127 to his tentH168. The slaughterH4347 wasH1961 veryH3966 greatH1419—thirtyH7970 thousandH505 foot soldiersH7273 of IsraelH3478 fellH5307. 11The arkH727 of GodH430 was capturedH3947, and Eli’sH5941 twoH8147 sonsH1121, HophniH2652 and PhinehasH6372, diedH4191.

The Death of Eli

12That sameH1931 dayH3117 a BenjamiteH1144H376 ranH7323 from the battle lineH4634 all the wayH935 to ShilohH7887, with his clothesH4055 tornH7167 and dirtH127 onH5921 his headH7218. 13When he arrivedH935, thereH2009 was EliH5941, sittingH3427 onH5921 his chairH3678 besideH3197 the roadH1870 and watchingH6822, becauseH3588 his heartH3820 trembledH1961H2730 forH5921 the arkH727 of GodH430.

When the manH376 enteredH935 the cityH5892 to give a reportH5046, the wholeH3605 cityH5892 cried outH2199.

14EliH5941 heardH8085 the outcryH6963H6818 and askedH559, “WhyH4100H6963 thisH2088 commotionH1995?”

So the manH376 hurried overH4116H935 and reportedH5046 to EliH5941. 15Now EliH5941 was ninety-eightH8673H8083 years oldH1121H8141, and his gazeH5869 was fixedH6965 because he could notH3808H3201 seeH7200.

16“IH595 have just comeH935 fromH4480 the battleH4634,” the manH376 saidH559 toH413 EliH5941. “IH589 fledH5127 fromH4480 there todayH4634H3117.”

“WhatH4100 happenedH1961H1697, my sonH1121?” Eli askedH559.

17The messengerH1319H559 answeredH6030, “IsraelH3478 has fledH5127 beforeH6440 the PhilistinesH6430, andH1571 there has beenH1961 a greatH1419 slaughterH4046 among the peopleH5971H1571. Your twoH8147 sonsH1121, HophniH2652 and PhinehasH6372, are both deadH4191, and the arkH727 of GodH430 has been capturedH3947.”

18As soon asH1961 the arkH727 of GodH430 was mentionedH2142, Eli fellH5307 backwardH322H1157 fromH5921 his chairH3678 byH3027 the city gateH8179, and beingH3588 oldH2204 and heavyH3515, he brokeH7665 his neckH4665 and diedH4191. AndH1931 Eli had judgedH81993 IsraelH3478 fortyH705 yearsH8141.

19Now Eli’s daughter-in-lawH3618, the wifeH802 of PhinehasH6372, was pregnantH2030 and about to give birthH3205. When she heardH8085 the newsH8052 ofH413 the captureH3947 of God’sH430 arkH727 and the deathsH4191 of her father-in-lawH2524 and her husbandH376, she collapsedH3766 and gave birthH3205, forH3588 her labor painsH6735 overtookH2015 herH5921.

20AsH6256 she was dyingH4191, the women attendingH5324 to herH5921 saidH1696, “Do notH408 be afraidH3372, forH3588 you have given birth toH3205 a sonH1121!”

But she did notH3808 respondH6030H3808 or pay any heedH7896H3820. 21And she namedH7121 the boyH5288 IchabodH350,4 sayingH559, “The gloryH3519 has departedH15405 from IsraelH3478,” becauseH413 the arkH727 of GodH430 had been capturedH3947 and her father-in-lawH2524 and her husband had been killedH376.

22“The gloryH3519 has departedH1540 from IsraelH3478,” she saidH559, “forH3588 the arkH727 of GodH430 has been capturedH3947.”