“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.” (1 Samuel 4:1-22 AV)
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