1 Samuel 4

The Philistines Capture the Ark

1 And the word of Samuel came to all 1 Israel.
Now 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 joined battle, Israel was 2 defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? c Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, d who dwells between e the cherubim. And the f two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. 6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the sound 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. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, g "Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. 8 "Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 h "Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, i as they have been to you. 3 Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!"

10 So the Philistines fought, and j Israel was 4 defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also k the ark of God was captured; and l the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

The Death of Eli

12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and m came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and n dirt on his head. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on o a seat 5 by the wayside watching, for his heart 6 trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What does the sound of this tumult mean?" And the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and p his eyes were so 7 dim that he could not see. 16 Then the man said to Eli, "I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line." And he said, q "What happened, my son?" 17 So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has 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 has been captured." 18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and 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 herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death r the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she 8 regard it. 21 Then she named the child s Ichabod, 9 10 saying, t "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 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:1
    Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
    1 Samuel 3:4
    That the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:12
    Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 12:9
    And when they forgot the LORD their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 10:35
    So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.
    Joshua 6:6 - 21
    Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 25:18 - 21
    And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
    1 Samuel 6:2
    And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.
    Psalms 80:1
    Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 7:89
    Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:12
    Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 15:14
    The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:13
    Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 13:1
    Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
    1 Samuel 14:21
    Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
  11. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:17
    I will set My face against you, and you shall b...
    Deuteronomy 28:15
    But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey t...
    Deuteronomy 28:25
    The LORD will cause you to be defeated before y...
    1 Samuel 4:2
    Then the Philistines put themselves in battle a...
    2 Samuel 18:17
    And they took Absalom and cast him into a large...
    2 Samuel 19:8
    Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And th...
    2 Kings 14:12
    And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man...
    2 Chronicles 25:22
    And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man...
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:32
    And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
    Psalms 78:60
    So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men.
    Psalms 78:61
    And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the enemy's hand.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:34
    Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them.
    Psalms 78:64
    Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.
  14. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:2
    On the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
  15. Cross References
    Joshua 7:6
    Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
    2 Samuel 13:19
    Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
    2 Samuel 15:32
    Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God - there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
    Nehemiah 9:1
    Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
    Job 2:12
    And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:9
    So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD.
    1 Samuel 4:18
    Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:2
    And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see.
    1 Kings 14:4
    And Jeroboam's wife did so; she arose and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were glazed by reason of his age.
  18. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:4
    Then David said to him, "How did the matter go? Please tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 35:16 - 19
    Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:3
    Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Previous Book Next Book