The Philistines Capture the Ark

1Thus the word of Samuel (his name is El) came to all Israel (he wrestles with God).

Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines (immigrants) in battle and camped at Ebenezer (stone of help), while the Philistines camped at Aphek (enclosure). 2The Philistines (immigrants) arrayed themselves against Israel (he wrestles with God), and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

3When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God) asked, “Why has the LORD {YHWH} brought defeat on us before the Philistines (immigrants) today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh (place of rest), so that it may go (He may go)a with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4So the people sent men to Shiloh (place of rest), and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli (ascension), Hophni (pugilist) and Phinehas (mouth of brass), were there with the ark of the covenant of God {Elohim}.

5When the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} entered the camp, all the Israelites (God prevails) raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

6On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines (immigrants) asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews (those from beyond)?”

And when they realized that the ark of the LORD {YHWH} had entered the camp, 7the Philistines (immigrants) were afraid. “The gods have entered (A god has entered)b their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. 8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians (land of bondage) with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9Take courage and be men, O Philistines (immigrants)! Otherwise, you⁺ will serve the Hebrews (those from beyond) just as they served you⁺. Now be men and fight!”

10So the Philistines (immigrants) fought, and Israel (he wrestles with God) was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11The ark of God {Elohim} was captured, and Eli’s (ascension) two sons, Hophni (pugilist) and Phinehas (mouth of brass), died.

The Death of Eli

12That same day a Benjamite (son of the right hand) ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh (place of rest), with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, there was Eli (ascension), sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God {Elohim}.

When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

14Eli (ascension) heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?”

So the man hurried over and reported to Eli. 15Now Eli (ascension) 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 (ascension). “I fled from there today.”

“What happened, my son?” Eli asked.

17The messenger answered, “Israel (he wrestles with God) has fled before the Philistines (immigrants), and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni (pugilist) and Phinehas (mouth of brass), are both dead, and the ark of God {Elohim} has been captured.”

18As soon as the ark of God {Elohim} 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 (governed)c Israel (he wrestles with God) forty years.

19Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas (mouth of brass), 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.

20As 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. 21And she named the boy Ichabod (no glory),d saying, “The glory has departed (gone into exile)e from Israel (he wrestles with God),” because the ark of God {Elohim} had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.

22“The glory has departed from Israel (he wrestles with God),” she said, “for the ark of God {Elohim} has been captured.”