1 Samuel 4

1 Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

2 The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

6 On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

7 the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.

8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

9 Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.

11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.

13 When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.

16 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.

17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18 As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.

19 Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.

20 As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed.

21 And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.

22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”

1 ¶ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What [meaneth] the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these [are] the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

10 ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12 ¶ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

13 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.

14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What [meaneth] the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

16 And the man said unto Eli, I [am] he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 ¶ And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, [near] to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard [it].

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

2 And they armed themselves against Israel. And the battle was far divided. And Israel was smitten before the Philistines, and they smote in order in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why hath the LORD smitten us this day before the Philistines? Let us take unto us the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, and let it come among us, that it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 And the people sent to Shiloh, and brought thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which sitteth over the cherubims. And there were the two sons of Eli with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD was come into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth resounded.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said: What is the noise of this great shouting in the camp of the Eberians? And when they heard that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp,

7 And they were afraid, and said: God is come into the camp: and they said, Woe is us: for it was not so before.

8 woe is us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote Egypt with all manner of plague in the wilderness.

9 Be ye therefore men of good courage, O ye Philistines, that ye serve not the Ebrams, as they have served you. Be men, and fight.

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and every man fled to his tent. And there was a very great slaughter: and there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

12 And one of Benjamin ran out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, having rent his clothes, and having sprinkled earth upon his head.

13 And, behold, when he was come in, Eli sat upon the throne to look toward the way: for his heart was troubled over the ark of God. And when the man was come into the city, he told it: and all the city cried out.

14 And when Eli heard the loud cry, he said, What is this loud tumult? And the man came hurrying, and told Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dark, that he could not see.)

16 And the man said unto Eh, I come, and am fled this day out of the army. And he said, How is it, my son?

17 And the messenger answered and said: Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there is a great slaughter among the people: and thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God is taken.

18 And when he remembered the ark of God, he fell back from the seat of the gate, and brake his neck in twain, and died: for he was old and a heavy man. And he judged Israel forty years.

19 And his wife, Phinehas' wife, was with child, and was about to lie. And when she heard that the ark of God was taken, and that her husband and her husband were dead, she bowed herself, and bare the child: for it came to her woe.

20 And when she was dead, the women that sat by her said: Fear not, for thou hast a young son. But she answered nothing, neither took it to heart.

21 And she called the name of the lad Ikabod, and said, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and her husband, and her husband.

22 And he said again, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken away.