The Philistines Capture the Ark
1And the wordof Samuelcame to all Israel.Now Israelwent outagainstthe Philistinesto battle,and pitchedbeside Ebenezer:and the Philistinespitchedin Aphek.2And the Philistinesput themselves in arrayagainstIsrael:and when they joinedbattle,Israelwas smittenbeforethe Philistines:and they slewof the armyin the fieldabout fourthousandmen.3And when the peoplewere comeinto the camp,the eldersof Israelsaid,Wherefore hath the LORDsmittenus to daybeforethe Philistines?Let us fetchthe arkof the covenantof the LORDout of Shilohunto us, that, when it comethamongus, it may saveus out of the handof our enemies.4So the peoplesentto Shiloh,that they might bringfrom thence the arkof the covenantof the LORDof hosts,which dwelleth[between] the cherubims:and the twosonsof Eli,Hophniand Phinehas,[were] there with the arkof the covenantof God.
5And when the arkof the covenantof the LORDcameinto the camp,all Israelshoutedwith a greatshout,so that the earthrang again.6And when the Philistinesheardthe noiseof the shout,they said,What [meaneth] the noiseof this greatshoutin the campof the Hebrews?And they understoodthat the arkof the LORDwas comeinto the camp.7And the Philistineswere afraid,for they said,Godis comeinto the camp.And they said,Woeunto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.8Woeunto us! who shall deliverus out of the handof these mightyGods?these [are] the Godsthat smotethe Egyptianswith all the plaguesin the wilderness.9Be strong,and quityourselves like men,O ye Philistines,that ye be not servantsunto the Hebrews,as they have beento you: quityourselves like men,and fight.
10And the Philistinesfought,and Israelwas smitten,and they fledevery maninto his tent:and there was a verygreatslaughter;for there fellof Israelthirtythousandfootmen.11And the arkof Godwas taken;and the twosonsof Eli,Hophniand Phinehas,were slain.
The Death of Eli
12And there rana manof Benjaminout of the army,and cameto Shilohthe same daywith his clothesrent,and with earthupon his head.13And when he came,lo, Elisatupon a seatby the waysidewatching:for his hearttrembledfor the arkof God.And when the mancameinto the city,and told[it], all the citycried out.14And when Eliheardthe noiseof the crying,he said,What [meaneth] the noiseof this tumult?And the mancamein hastily,and toldEli.15Now Eliwas ninetyand eightyearsold;and his eyeswere dim,that he couldnot see.16And the mansaidunto Eli,I [am] he that cameout of the army,and I fledto dayout of the army.And he said,What is there done,my son?17And the messengeransweredand said,Israelis fledbeforethe Philistines,and there hath been also a greatslaughteramong the people,and thy twosonsalso, Hophniand Phinehas,are dead,and the arkof Godis taken.18And it came to pass, when he made mentionof the arkof God,that he fellfrom off the seatbackwardbythe sideof the gate,and his neckbrake,and he died:for he was an oldman,and heavy.And he had judgedIsraelfortyyears.
19And his daughter in law,Phinehas'wife,was with child,[near] to be delivered:and when she heardthe tidingsthatthe arkof Godwas taken,and that her father in lawand her husbandwere dead,she bowedherself and travailed;for her painscameupon her.20And about the timeof her deaththe women that stoodby her saidunto her, Fearnot; for thou hast borna son.But she answerednot, neither did she regard[it].21And she namedthe childIchabod,saying,The gloryis departedfrom Israel:becausethe arkof Godwas taken,and because of her father in lawand her husband.22And she said,The gloryis departedfrom Israel:for the arkof Godis taken.
