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.

So the news of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up their tents beside Ebenezer while the Philistines stayed 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 came dressed for battle to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel lost to the Philistines. The Philistines killed about 4, 000 men on the battle-field.

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 people returned to the tents, the leaders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord made us lose today to the Philistines? Let us bring the special box that holds the Law of the Lord here from Shiloh. Then He may come among us and save us from the power of those who fight against us.”

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 men to Shiloh to take the special box with the Law of the Lord of All Who sits above the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the special box with the Law 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.

When the box with the Law of the Lord came among the tents, all Israel called out with a loud noise, so that the earth shook.

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.

When the Philistines heard the noise, they said, “What does this loud noise among the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the special box of the Lord had come among the Israelites.

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. They said, “A god has come among the tents. Trouble has come to us! Nothing like this has 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.

Trouble has come to us! Who will save us from the hand of these powerful gods? These are the gods who destroyed the Egyptians with all kinds of troubles in the desert.

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 act like men, O Philistines. Or you will be made to work for the Hebrews, as they have been made to work for you. Be 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.

So the Philistines fought, and Israel lost. Every man ran to his tent. And many were killed, 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.

The special box of God was taken. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Death of Eli

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.

A man of Benjamin ran from the battle and came to Shiloh the same day. His clothes were torn and he had dust 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 came, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for he was very worried about the special box of God. The man told the news in the city, and 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 in the city, he said, “What does this noise mean?” Then the man came in a hurry 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 ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were weak 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 ran from the battle today.” And 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 one who brought the news answered, “Israel has run from the Philistines and there have been many people killed. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead. And the special box of God has been taken.”

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.

When he told about the special box of God, Eli fell back off the seat by the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was old 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 going to have a child and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the special box of God was taken and that her father-in-law and husband had died, she started to give 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.

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 listen to them.

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.

She gave the boy the name Ichabod, saying, “The honor has left Israel,” because the special box of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and husband.

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

She said, “The honor has left Israel, for the special box of God was taken.”