1And 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.2The 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.3When 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.’4So 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.5When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.6Hearing 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,7the Philistines were afraid. ‘A god has[1] come into the camp,’ they said. ‘Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.8We’re doomed! 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.9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!’10So 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.11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Death of Eli
12That same day a Benjaminite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.13When 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.14Eli heard the outcry and asked, ‘What is the meaning of this uproar?’ The man hurried over to Eli,15who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see.16He told Eli, ‘I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.’ Eli asked, ‘What happened, my son?’17The man 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.’18When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards 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[2] Israel for forty years.19His 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 labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains.20As 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.21She named the boy Ichabod,[3] 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.22She said, ‘The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’
1 Samuel 4
English Standard Version
The Philistines Capture the Ark
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. (Jos 12:18; 1Sa 5:1; 1Sa 7:12; 1Sa 29:1)2The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.3And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it[1] may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” (Jos 18:1)4So 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 Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (Ex 25:22; Nu 7:89; 2Sa 6:2; Ps 80:1; Ps 99:1)5As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. (Jos 6:5; Jos 6:20)6And 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,7the 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.8Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.9Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” (Jud 13:1; 2Sa 10:12; 1Co 16:13)10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. (Le 26:17; De 28:25; 1Sa 4:2; 2Sa 18:17; 2Sa 19:8; 2Ki 14:12; 2Ch 25:22; Ps 78:62)11And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (1Sa 2:32; 1Sa 2:34; Ps 78:60; Ps 78:64)
The Death of Eli
12A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. (Jos 7:6)13When he arrived, Eli was sitting on 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. (1Sa 1:9; 1Sa 4:18)14When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli.15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. (1Sa 3:2; 1Ki 14:4)16And 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?” (2Sa 1:4)17He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”18As soon as 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 the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. (1Sa 4:13)19Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news 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.20And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. (Ge 35:17)21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed[2] from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. (1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 14:3; Ps 26:8; Ps 78:61)22And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” (1Sa 4:21)