1 Samuel 4

1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

1And the message of Samuel reached all the people of Israel. At that time, Israel went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Eben-ezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

2The Philistines lined up in battle formation to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines. About four thousand men were killed on the battlefield.

3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.

3When the soldiers returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, 'Why did the LORD let us be defeated by the Philistines today? Let’s bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant here from Shiloh. When it is with us, it will save us from the power of our enemies.'

4So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5And when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

5When the ark of the LORD’s covenant arrived in the camp, all the Israelites gave such a loud shout that the ground shook.

6And 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? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah was come into the camp.

6When the Philistines heard the shouting, they asked, 'What is all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?' When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, they were terrified.

7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

7'A god has come into their camp!' they cried. 'We are in trouble! Nothing like this has ever happened before.'

8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.

8'We are doomed! Who can save us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the same gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.'

9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

9'Be brave, Philistines! Fight like men, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews just as they have been slaves to you. Be men and fight!'

10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his own home. It was a terrible slaughter, and thirty thousand Israelite foot soldiers died.

11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

12A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battle line and reached Shiloh that same day. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head to show he was mourning.

13And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon his 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.

13When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching anxiously because his heart trembled for the safety of the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city began to cry out in grief.

14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man hasted, and came and told Eli.

14Eli heard the noise and asked, 'What is all this commotion?' The man rushed over to give Eli the news.

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

15Eli was now ninety-eight years old, and he was blind so that he could not see.

16And 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, How went the matter, my son?

16The man said to Eli, 'I have just come from the battle. I escaped from the army today.' Eli asked, 'What happened, my son?'

17And he that brought the tidings answered and said, Israel 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.

17The messenger answered, 'Israel has fled from the Philistines, and many people have been killed. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are also dead, and the ark of God has been captured.'

18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

18As soon as the man mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair beside the gate. His neck broke and he died, for he was an old man and very heavy. He had led Israel for forty years.

19And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to 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 brought forth; for her pains came upon her.

19His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth.

20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

20As she was dying, the women attending her said, 'Don't be afraid! You have given birth to a son.' But she did not answer or pay any attention.

21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

21She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel,' because the ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.

22And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.

22She said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been taken.'