1 Samuel 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

The Ark of God Captured

In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel,[a] and Israel went out to battle against them;[b] they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.(A)2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle was joined,[c] Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 When the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, so that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”(B)4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.(C)

5 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.(D)6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp,(E)7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “Gods have[d] come into the camp.” They also said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, in order not to become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”(F)

10 So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home. There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.(G)11 The ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(H)

Death of Eli

12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with earth upon his head.(I)13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.(J)14 When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.(K)16 The man said to Eli, “I have just come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” He said, “How did it go, my son?”(L)17 The messenger replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter[e] among the troops; your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli[f] fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.(M)

19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her labor pains overwhelmed her. 20 As she was about to die, the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or give heed.(N)21 She named the child Ichabod, meaning, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(O)

Footnotes

  1. 4.1Gk: Heb lacks In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel
  2. 4.1Gk: Heb against the Philistines
  3. 4.2Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 4.7Or A god has
  5. 4.17Heb plague
  6. 4.18Heb he

Cross references

  1. 4.1 : 1 Sam 7.12
  2. 4.3 : Num 10.35; Josh 7.7, 8
  3. 4.4 : Ex 25.18, 22; 2 Sam 6.2
  4. 4.5 : Josh 6.5, 20
  5. 4.6 : Ex 15.14
  6. 4.9 : Judg 13.1; 1 Cor 16.13
  7. 4.10 : v 2; Deut 28.25; 2 Sam 18.17; 2 Kings 14.12
  8. 4.11 : 1 Sam 2.34; Ps 78.56–64
  9. 4.12 : Josh 7.6; 2 Sam 1.2; Neh 9.1
  10. 4.13 : v 18; 1 Sam 1.9
  11. 4.15 : 1 Sam 3.2
  12. 4.16 : 2 Sam 1.4
  13. 4.18 : v 13
  14. 4.20 : Gen 35.16–19
  15. 4.22 : v 11; Jer 2.11

You Might Also Like:

1 Samuel 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 And the word of Samuel is to all Israel, and Israel goeth out to meet the Philistines for battle, and they encamp by Eben-Ezer, and the Philistines have encamped in Aphek, 2 and the Philistines set themselves in array to meet Israel, and the battle spreadeth itself, and Israel is smitten before th...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 and the word of Samuel came to all Israel. And it was done in those days (the) Philistines came together into battle; for Israel went out against the Philistines into battle, and setted tents beside the stone of help (and pitched their tents at Ebenezer). And the Philistines came into Aphek, 2 and...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 1 The word of Samuel came to all Israel.Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. When they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who kille...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 And all of Israel was influenced by Samuel’s words.[In those days, the Philistines warred against Israel,][a] and the warriors of Israel went out to fight them. They camped at Ebenezer while the Philistine forces made camp at Aphek. 2 The Philistines lined up against Israel; and when they advance...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Defeat and Loss of the Ark4 So it was that the word of Samuel went forth to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines in battle. They camped at Eben-ezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel, and when the battle was fought, Is...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.The Ark of God Captured[a]Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebene′zer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.The Ark of God CapturedNow Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; they encamped at Ebene′zer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Ph...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.The Ark of God CapturedIn those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel,[a] and Israel went out to battle against them;[b] they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, ...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.The Ark of God CapturedIn those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel,[a] and Israel went out to battle against them;[b] they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.(A)2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, ...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

4 1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.The Philistines Capture the ArkAt that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 m...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Philistines Take the Special Box of the Agreement4 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 The Philistines came dressed for battle to meet Israel. When the b...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Death of Eli4 And the word of Samuel came to all [a]Israel.The Ark of God CapturedNow Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside (A)Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the (B)Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.The Philistines capture the arkNow the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated ...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New International Version (NIV)

4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.The Philistines Capture the ArkNow the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,(A) and the Philistines at Aphek.(B) 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defe...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

4 And Samuel gave those messages to all the Israelites.The Philistines Capture the ArkThe Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer. The Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines brought their forces together to fight against Israel. As the fightin...
Read More

1 Samuel 4 - New English Translation (NET)

4 1 Samuel revealed the word of the Lord[a] to all Israel.The Ark of the Covenant is Lost to the PhilistinesThen the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines.[b] They camped at Ebenezer,[c] and the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines arranged their forces to fight[d] Israel. As the ...
Read More