1 S o 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.

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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.

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 W hen 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.

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, 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.

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. They said, “A god has come among the tents. Trouble has come to us! 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 T rouble 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.

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 B e 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.”

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 lost. Every man ran to his tent. And many were killed, for 30, 000 foot soldiers of Israel fell.

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 T he special box of God was taken. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Death of Eli

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

12 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.

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, 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.

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 in the city, he said, “What does this noise mean?” Then the man came in a hurry 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 weak 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 have come from the battle. I ran from the battle today.” And Eli said, “How did it 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 he 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.”

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 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.

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’ 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.

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 bout 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.

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 S he 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.

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 honor has left Israel, for the special box of God was taken.”

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