1 T hus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek.

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and encamped beside Ebenezer; the Philistines encamped at Aphek.

2 T he Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.

The Philistines drew up against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was smitten by the Philistines, who slew about 4, 000 men on the battlefield.

3 W hen the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “ Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”

When the troops had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that He may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.

4 S o the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, Who dwells above the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 A s the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.

And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.

6 W hen the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean ?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What does this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean? When they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp,

7 T he Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “ Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.

The Philistines were afraid, for they said, God has come into the camp. And they said, Woe to us! For such a thing has not happened before.

8 W oe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the wilderness.

9 T ake courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight.”

Be strong, and acquit yourselves like men, O you Philistines, that you may not become servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you; behave yourselves like men, and fight!

10 S o the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.

And the Philistines fought; Israel was smitten and they fled every man to his own home. There was a very great slaughter; for 30, 000 foot soldiers of Israel fell.

11 A nd the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12 N ow a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head.

Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that day, with his clothes torn and earth on his head.

13 W hen he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching, because his heart was trembling for the ark of God. So the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out.

When he arrived, Eli was sitting by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man told the news in the city, all the city cried out.

14 W hen Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean ?” Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli.

When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What is this uproar? And the man came hastily and told Eli.

15 N ow Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see.

Now Eli was 98 years old; his eyes were dim so that he could not see.

16 T he man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.” And he said, “ How did things go, my son?”

The man said to Eli, I have come from the battle; I fled from the battle today. Eli said, How did it go, my son?

17 T hen the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.”

The messenger replied, Israel fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is captured.

18 W hen he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years.

And when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

19 N ow his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.

Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, about to be delivered. And when she heard that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.

20 A nd about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “ Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention.

And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, Fear not, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer or notice.

21 A nd she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “ The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!—because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

22 S he said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken.”

She said, The glory is gone from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken.