1Samuel 4
4And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.H1697H8050H3478H3478H3318H7125H6430H4421H2583H72H6430H2583H6632The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield.H6430H6186H7125H3478H5203H4421H3478H5062H6440H6430H5221H4634H7704H702H505H3763When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."H5971H935H4264H2205H3478H559H3068H5062H3117H6440H6430H3947H727H1285H3068H7887H935H7130H3467H3709H3414So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.H5971H7971H7887H5375H727H1285H3068H6635H3427H3742H8147H1121H5941H2652H6372H727H1285H4305When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.H727H1285H3068H935H4264H3478H7321H1419H8643H776H19496Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,H6430H8085H6963H8643H559H6963H1419H8643H4264H5680H3045H727H3068H935H42647the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before.H6430H3372H559H430H935H4264H559H188H865H80328Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.H188H5337H3027H117H430H430H5221H4714H4347H40579Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"H2388H1961H582H6430H5647H5680H5647H1961H582H389810So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.H6430H3898H3478H5062H5127H376H168H3966H1419H4347H5307H3478H7970H505H727311The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.H727H430H3947H8147H1121H5941H2652H6372H419112That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.H7323H376H1144H4634H935H7887H3117H4055H7167H127H721813When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.H935H5941H3427H3678H1870H3027H3197H6822H3820H2730H727H430H376H935H5892H5046H5892H219914Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli,H5941H8085H6963H6818H559H6963H1995H376H935H4116H5046H594115who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see.H5941H8673H8083H8141H1121H5869H6965H3201H720016He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?"H376H559H5941H935H4634H5127H3117H4634H559H1697H112117The one who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."H1319H6030H559H3478H5127H6440H6430H1419H4046H5971H8147H1121H2652H6372H4191H727H430H394718When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.H2142H727H430H5307H3678H322H1157H3027H8179H4665H7665H4191H2204H376H3513H8199H3478H705H814119His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains.H3618H6372H802H2030H3205H8085H8052H413H727H430H3947H2524H376H4191H3766H3205H6735H201520As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.H6256H4191H5324H1696H3372H3205H1121H6030H7896H382021She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The Glory has departed from Israel"—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.H7121H5288H350H559H3519H1540H3478H413H727H430H3947H2524H37622She said, "The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."H559H3519H1540H3478H727H430H3947
Columbus, OH
