[1] And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to
battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebene'zer, and the
Philistines encamped at Aphek. [2] The Philistines drew up in line against
Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines,
who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle. [3] And when the
troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD put
us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the
covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that he may come among us and save
us from the power of our enemies." [4] So the people sent to Shiloh, and
brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is
enthroned on the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas,
were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] When the ark of the
covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so
that the earth resounded. [6] And when the Philistines heard the noise of
the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the
Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to
the camp, [7] the Philistines were afraid; for they said, "A god has come
into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has
happened before. [8] Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these
mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with every sort of
plague in the wilderness. [9] Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men,
O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to
you; acquit yourselves like men and fight." [10] So the Philistines fought,
and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home; and there
was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot
soldiers. [11] And the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phin'ehas, were slain. [12] A man of Benjamin ran from the
battle line, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent and
with earth upon his head. [13] When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his
seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And
when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.
[14] When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this
uproar?" Then the man hastened and came and told Eli. [15] Now Eli was
ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
[16] And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled
from the battle today." And he said, "How did it go, my son?" [17] He who
brought the tidings answered and said, "Israel has fled before the
Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the people;
your two sons also, Hophni and Phin'ehas, are dead, and the ark of God has
been captured." [18] When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over
backward from his seat by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and
he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty
years. [19] Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phin'ehas, was with child,
about to give birth. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was
captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed
and gave birth; for her pains came upon her. [20] And about the time of her
death the women attending her said to her, "Fear not, for you have borne a
son." But she did not answer or give heed. [21] And she named the child
Ich'abod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of
God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
[22] And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God
has been captured."
