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The Philistines Capture the Ark

4 AndthewordofSamuelcametoallIsrael.

NowIsraelwentouttobattleagainstthePhilistines.Theyencampedat^wEbenezer,andthePhilistinesencampedat^xAphek.2 ThePhilistinesdrewupinlineagainstIsrael,andwhenthebattlespread,IsraelwasdefeatedbeforethePhilistines,whokilledaboutfourthousandmenonthefieldofbattle.3 Andwhenthepeoplecametothecamp,theeldersofIsraelsaid,“WhyhastheLorddefeatedustodaybeforethePhilistines?LetusbringthearkofthecovenantoftheLordhere^yfromShiloh,thatit¹maycomeamongusandsaveusfromthepowerofourenemies.”4 SothepeoplesenttoShilohandbroughtfromtherethearkofthecovenantoftheLordofhosts,^zwhoisenthronedonthecherubim.AndthetwosonsofEli,HophniandPhinehas,weretherewiththearkofthecovenantofGod.

5 AssoonasthearkofthecovenantoftheLordcameintothecamp,allIsrael^agaveamightyshout,sothattheearthresounded.6 AndwhenthePhilistinesheardthenoiseoftheshouting,theysaid,“WhatdoesthisgreatshoutinginthecampoftheHebrewsmean?”AndwhentheylearnedthatthearkoftheLordhadcometothecamp,7 thePhilistineswereafraid,fortheysaid,“Agodhascomeintothecamp.”Andtheysaid,“Woetous!Fornothinglikethishashappenedbefore.8 Woetous!Whocandeliverusfromthepowerofthesemightygods?ThesearethegodswhostrucktheEgyptianswitheverysortofplagueinthewilderness.9 ^bTakecourage,andbemen,OPhilistines,lestyoubecomeslavestotheHebrews^castheyhavebeentoyou;bemenandfight.”

10 SothePhilistinesfought,^dandIsraelwasdefeated,^eandtheyfled,everymantohishome.Andtherewasaverygreatslaughter,forthirtythousandfootsoldiersofIsraelfell.11 ^fAndthearkofGodwascaptured,^gandthetwosonsofEli,HophniandPhinehas,died.

The Death of Eli

12 AmanofBenjaminranfromthebattlelineandcametoShilohthesameday,^hwithhisclothestornandwithdirtonhishead.13 Whenhearrived,ⁱEliwassittingonhisseatbytheroadwatching,forhishearttrembledforthearkofGod.Andwhenthemancameintothecityandtoldthenews,allthecitycriedout.14 WhenEliheardthesoundoftheoutcry,hesaid,“Whatisthisuproar?”ThenthemanhurriedandcameandtoldEli.15 NowEliwasninety-eightyearsold^jandhiseyesweresetsothathecouldnotsee.16 AndthemansaidtoEli,“Iamhewhohascomefromthebattle;Ifledfromthebattletoday.”Andhesaid,^k“Howdiditgo,myson?”17 Hewhobroughtthenewsansweredandsaid,“IsraelhasfledbeforethePhilistines,andtherehasalsobeenagreatdefeatamongthepeople.Yourtwosonsalso,HophniandPhinehas,aredead,andthearkofGodhasbeencaptured.”18 AssoonashementionedthearkofGod,Elifelloverbackward^lfromhisseatbythesideofthegate,andhisneckwasbrokenandhedied,forthemanwasoldandheavy.HehadjudgedIsraelfortyyears.

19 Nowhisdaughter-in-law,thewifeofPhinehas,waspregnant,abouttogivebirth.AndwhensheheardthenewsthatthearkofGodwascaptured,andthatherfather-in-lawandherhusbandweredead,shebowedandgavebirth,forherpainscameuponher.20 Andaboutthetimeofherdeaththewomenattendinghersaidtoher,^m“Donotbeafraid,foryouhaveborneason.”Butshedidnotanswerorpayattention.21 AndshenamedthechildⁿIchabod,saying,^o“Thegloryhasdeparted²fromIsrael!”because^pthearkofGodhadbeencapturedandbecauseofherfather-in-lawandherhusband.22 Andshesaid,“ThegloryhasdepartedfromIsrael,^pforthearkofGodhasbeencaptured.”

The Philistines and the Ark

5 WhenthePhilistinescapturedthearkofGod,theybroughtitfrom^qEbenezerto^rAshdod.2 ThenthePhilistinestookthearkofGodandbroughtitintothehouseofDagonandsetitupbeside^sDagon.3 AndwhenthepeopleofAshdodroseearlythenextday,behold,^tDagonhadfallenfacedownwardonthegroundbeforethearkoftheLord.SotheytookDagonandputhimbackinhisplace.4 Butwhentheyroseearlyonthenextmorning,behold,DagonhadfallenfacedownwardonthegroundbeforethearkoftheLord,^uandtheheadofDagonandbothhishandswerelyingcutoffonthethreshold.OnlythetrunkofDagonwaslefttohim.5 ThisiswhythepriestsofDagonandallwhoenterthehouseofDagon^vdonottreadonthethresholdofDagoninAshdodtothisday.

6 ^wThehandoftheLordwasheavyagainstthepeopleofAshdod,andheterrifiedandafflictedthemwith^xtumors,bothAshdodanditsterritory.7 AndwhenthemenofAshdodsawhowthingswere,theysaid,“ThearkoftheGodofIsraelmustnotremainwithus,forhishandishardagainstusandagainstDagonourgod.”8 Sotheysentandgatheredtogetherall^ythelordsofthePhilistinesandsaid,“WhatshallwedowiththearkoftheGodofIsrael?”Theyanswered,“LetthearkoftheGodofIsraelbebroughtaroundtoGath.”SotheybroughtthearkoftheGodofIsraelthere.9 Butaftertheyhadbroughtitaround,^zthehandoftheLordwasagainstthecity,causingaverygreatpanic,andheafflictedthemenofthecity,bothyoungandold,sothat^xtumorsbrokeoutonthem.10 SotheysentthearkofGodtoEkron.ButassoonasthearkofGodcametoEkron,thepeopleofEkroncriedout,“TheyhavebroughtaroundtousthearkoftheGodofIsraeltokillusandourpeople.”11 ^yTheysentthereforeandgatheredtogetherallthelordsofthePhilistinesandsaid,“SendawaythearkoftheGodofIsrael,andletitreturntoitsownplace,thatitmaynotkillusandourpeople.”Fortherewasadeathlypanicthroughoutthewholecity.^wThehandofGodwasveryheavythere.12 Themenwhodidnotdiewerestruckwith^xtumors,andthecryofthecitywentuptoheaven.

The Ark Returned to Israel

6 ThearkoftheLordwasinthecountryofthePhilistinessevenmonths.2 AndthePhilistinescalledforthepriestsand^athedivinersandsaid,“WhatshallwedowiththearkoftheLord?Telluswithwhatweshallsendittoitsplace.”3 Theysaid,“IfyousendawaythearkoftheGodofIsrael,donotsenditempty,butbyallmeansreturnhim^baguiltoffering.Thenyouwillbehealed,anditwillbeknowntoyouwhy^chishanddoesnotturnawayfromyou.”4 Andtheysaid,“Whatistheguiltofferingthatweshallreturntohim?”Theyanswered,“Fivegolden^dtumorsandfivegoldenmice,^eaccordingtothenumberofthelordsofthePhilistines,forthesameplaguewasonallofyouandonyourlords.5 Soyoumustmakeimagesofyour^dtumorsandimagesofyourmicethatravagetheland,^fandgiveglorytotheGodofIsrael.Perhaps^ghewilllightenhishandfromoffyou^handyourgodsandyourland.6 WhyshouldyouhardenyourheartsasⁱtheEgyptiansand^jPharaohhardenedtheirhearts?Afterhehaddealtseverelywiththem,^kdidtheynotsendthepeopleaway,andtheydeparted?7 Nowthen,takeandprepare^lanewcartandtwomilkcows^monwhichtherehasnevercomeayoke,andyokethecowstothecart,buttaketheircalveshome,awayfromthem.8 AndtakethearkoftheLordandplaceitonthecartandputinaboxatitssideⁿthefiguresofgold,whichyouarereturningtohimas^baguiltoffering.Thensenditoffandletitgoitsway9 andwatch.Ifitgoesuponthewaytoitsownland,to^oBeth-shemesh,thenitishewhohasdoneusthisgreatharm,butifnot,thenweshallknowthatitisnot^phishandthatstruckus;ithappenedtousbycoincidence.”

10 Themendidso,andtooktwomilkcowsandyokedthemtothecartandshutuptheircalvesathome.11 AndtheyputthearkoftheLordonthecartandtheboxwiththegoldenmiceandtheimagesoftheirtumors.12 Andthecowswentstraightinthedirectionof^qBeth-shemeshalong^ronehighway,lowingastheywent.Theyturnedneithertotherightnortotheleft,andthelordsofthePhilistineswentafterthemasfarastheborderof^qBeth-shemesh.13 Nowthepeopleof^qBeth-shemeshwerereapingtheirwheatharvestinthevalley.Andwhentheylifteduptheireyesandsawtheark,theyrejoicedtoseeit.14 ThecartcameintothefieldofJoshuaofBeth-shemeshandstoppedthere.^sAgreatstonewasthere.AndtheysplitupthewoodofthecartandofferedthecowsasaburntofferingtotheLord.15 AndtheLevitestookdownthearkoftheLordandtheboxthatwasbesideit,inwhichwerethegoldenfigures,andsetthemupon^sthegreatstone.Andthemenof^qBeth-shemeshofferedburntofferingsandsacrificedsacrificesonthatdaytotheLord.16 Andwhen^tthefivelordsofthePhilistinessawit,theyreturnedthatdaytoEkron.

17 ThesearethegoldentumorsthatthePhilistinesreturnedasa^uguiltofferingtotheLord:oneforAshdod,oneforGaza,oneforAshkelon,oneforGath,oneforEkron,18 andthegoldenmice,accordingtothenumberofallthecitiesofthePhilistinesbelongingtothefivelords,^vbothfortifiedcitiesandunwalledvillages.^wThegreatstonebesidewhichtheysetdownthearkoftheLordisawitnesstothisdayinthefieldofJoshuaofBeth-shemesh.

19 ^xAndhestrucksomeofthemenofBeth-shemesh,becausetheylookeduponthearkoftheLord.Hestruckseventymenofthem,¹andthepeoplemournedbecausetheLordhadstruckthepeoplewithagreatblow.20 ThenthemenofBeth-shemeshsaid,^y“WhoisabletostandbeforetheLord,thisholyGod?Andtowhomshallhegoupawayfromus?”21 Sotheysentmessengerstotheinhabitantsof^zKiriath-jearim,saying,“ThePhilistineshavereturnedthearkoftheLord.Comedownandtakeituptoyou.”

7 AndthemenofKiriath-jearimcameandtookupthearkoftheLordandbroughtittothehouseof^aAbinadabonthehill.AndtheyconsecratedhissonEleazartohavechargeofthearkoftheLord.2 FromthedaythatthearkwaslodgedatKiriath-jearim,alongtimepassed,sometwentyyears,andallthehouseofIsraellamentedaftertheLord.

Samuel Judges Israel

3 AndSamuelsaidtoallthehouseofIsrael,^b“IfyouarereturningtotheLordwithallyourheart,then^cputawaytheforeigngodsandthe^dAshtarothfromamongyouand^edirectyourhearttotheLord^fandservehimonly,andhewilldeliveryououtofthehandofthePhilistines.”4 SothepeopleofIsraelputawaytheBaalsandtheAshtaroth,andtheyservedtheLordonly.

5 ThenSamuelsaid,“GatherallIsraelat^gMizpah,andIwillpraytotheLordforyou.”6 Sotheygatheredat^gMizpah^handdrewwaterandpoureditoutbeforetheLordⁱandfastedonthatdayandsaidthere,^j“WehavesinnedagainsttheLord.”AndSamueljudgedthepeopleofIsraelatMizpah.7 NowwhenthePhilistinesheardthatthepeopleofIsraelhadgatheredatMizpah,thelordsofthePhilistineswentupagainstIsrael.AndwhenthepeopleofIsraelheardofit,theywereafraidofthePhilistines.8 AndthepeopleofIsraelsaidtoSamuel,“DonotceasetocryouttotheLordourGodforus,thathemaysaveusfromthehandofthePhilistines.”9 SoSamueltookanursinglambandoffereditasawholeburntofferingtotheLord.And^kSamuelcriedouttotheLordforIsrael,andtheLordansweredhim.10 AsSamuelwasofferinguptheburntoffering,thePhilistinesdrewneartoattackIsrael.^lButtheLordthunderedwithamightysoundthatdayagainstthePhilistinesandthrewthemintoconfusion,andtheyweredefeatedbeforeIsrael.11 AndthemenofIsraelwentoutfromMizpahandpursuedthePhilistinesandstruckthem,asfarasbelowBeth-car.

12 ThenSamuel^mtookastoneandsetitupbetweenMizpahandShen¹andcalleditsnameEbenezer;²forhesaid,“TillnowtheLordhashelpedus.”13 ⁿSothePhilistinesweresubduedanddidnotagainentertheterritoryofIsrael.AndthehandoftheLordwasagainstthePhilistinesallthedaysofSamuel.14 ThecitiesthatthePhilistineshadtakenfromIsraelwererestoredtoIsrael,fromEkrontoGath,andIsraeldeliveredtheirterritoryfromthehandofthePhilistines.TherewaspeacealsobetweenIsraelandtheAmorites.

15 ^oSamueljudgedIsraelallthedaysofhislife.16 AndhewentonacircuityearbyyeartoBethel,Gilgal,andMizpah.AndhejudgedIsraelinalltheseplaces.17 Thenhewouldreturnto^pRamah,forhishomewasthere,andtherealsohejudgedIsrael.^qAndhebuiltthereanaltartotheLord.

Israel Demands a King

8 WhenSamuelbecameold,^rhemadehissonsjudgesoverIsrael.2 ThenameofhisfirstbornsonwasJoel,andthenameofhissecond,Abijah;theywerejudgesinBeersheba.3 Yethissonsdidnotwalkinhisways^sbutturnedasideaftergain.^tTheytookbribesandpervertedjustice.

4 ThenalltheeldersofIsraelgatheredtogetherandcametoSamuelat^pRamah5 andsaidtohim,“Behold,youareoldandyoursonsdonotwalkinyourways.^uNowappointforusakingtojudgeuslikeallthenations.”6 ButthethingdispleasedSamuelwhentheysaid,“Giveusakingtojudgeus.”AndSamuelprayedtotheLord.7 AndtheLordsaidtoSamuel,“Obeythevoiceofthepeopleinallthattheysaytoyou,^vfortheyhavenotrejectedyou,^wbuttheyhaverejectedmefrombeingkingoverthem.8 Accordingtoallthedeedsthattheyhavedone,fromthedayIbroughtthemupoutofEgypteventothisday,forsakingmeandservingothergods,sotheyarealsodoingtoyou.9 Nowthen,obeytheirvoice;onlyyoushallsolemnlywarnthem^xandshowthemthewaysofthekingwhoshallreignoverthem.”

Samuel’s Warning Against Kings

10 SoSamueltoldallthewordsoftheLordtothepeoplewhowereaskingforakingfromhim.11 Hesaid,^y“Thesewillbethewaysofthekingwhowillreignoveryou:^zhewilltakeyoursonsandappointthemtohischariotsandtobehishorsemenandtorunbeforehischariots.12 Andhewillappointforhimselfcommandersofthousandsandcommandersoffifties,andsome^atoplowhisgroundandtoreaphisharvest,andtomakehisimplementsofwarandtheequipmentofhischariots.13 Hewilltakeyourdaughterstobeperfumersandcooksandbakers.14 ^bHewilltakethebestofyourfieldsandvineyardsandoliveorchardsandgivethemtohisservants.15 Hewilltakethetenthofyourgrainandofyourvineyardsandgiveittohisofficersandtohisservants.16 Hewilltakeyourmaleservantsandfemaleservantsandthebestofyouryoungmen¹andyourdonkeys,andputthemtohiswork.17 Hewilltakethetenthofyourflocks,andyoushallbehisslaves.18 Andinthatdayyouwillcryoutbecauseofyourking,whomyouhavechosenforyourselves,^cbuttheLordwillnotansweryouinthatday.”

TheLord Grants Israel’s Request

19 ButthepeoplerefusedtoobeythevoiceofSamuel.Andtheysaid,“No!Butthereshallbeakingoverus,20 ^dthatwealsomaybelikeallthenations,andthatourkingmayjudgeusandgooutbeforeusandfightourbattles.”21 AndwhenSamuelhadheardallthewordsofthepeople,herepeatedthemintheearsoftheLord.22 AndtheLordsaidtoSamuel,^e“Obeytheirvoiceandmakethemaking.”SamuelthensaidtothemenofIsrael,“Goeverymantohiscity.”