1 Samuel 4:1-13 ▼

1 Thus 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).

2 The 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.

3 When 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) with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So 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}.

5 When 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.

6 On 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,

7 the Philistines (immigrants) were afraid. “The gods have entered (A god has entered) their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.

8 Woe 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.

9 Take 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!”

10 So 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.

11 The ark of God {Elohim} was captured, and Eli’s (ascension) two sons, Hophni (pugilist) and Phinehas (mouth of brass), died.

12 That 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.

13 When 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.