1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel Chapter 4 KJV

1The Israelites are smitten by the Philistines at Eben-ezer. 3They fetch the ark to the terror of their enemies; 10but are smitten again, the ark taken, and the two sons of Eli slain. 12Upon hearing the news Eli falleth backward, and breaketh his neck. 19The wife of Phinehas through grief falleth in labour, is delivered of I-chabod, and dieth.
1 And the word of Samuel acame to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside 1Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in 2Aphek.
2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when athey joined battle, 1Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the barmy in the field about four thousand men.
3 ¶ And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, 1Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? 2Let us afetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of 3Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4 So 1the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the 2ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth 3between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there 4with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, 1all Israel 2shouted with a great shout, so that the earth 3rang again.
6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 1And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.
7 And the Philistines 1were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing aheretofore.
8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that 1smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9 1Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, 2as they have been to you: aquit yourselves like men, and fight.
10 ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled 1every man into his tent: and there 2was a very great slaughter; for there fell of 3Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11 And 1the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, awere slain.
12 ¶ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with 1his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13 And when he came, lo, Eli 1sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15 Now Eli 1was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes awere dim, that he could not see.
16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What ais there done, my son?
17 And the messenger answered and said, 1Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18 And it came to pass, 1when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by 2the side of the gate, and his 3neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19 ¶ And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near ato be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains bcame upon her.
20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, 1Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, aneither did she regard it.
21 And she named the child aI-chabod, saying, 1The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 And she said, 1The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
1 Samuel 4