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1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines for battle, and they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.
2The Philistines lined up for the battle to meet Israel, and the battle was prolonged until Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.[#Or “drawn out”; #Literally “and they”; #Literally “in the battle line in the field”]
3When the army came back to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to us from Shiloh so that it may come into our midst and deliver us from the hand of our enemies.”[#Or “people”; #Or “save”]
4So the army sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts who sits between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5Now when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh arrived at the camp, all Israel let out a loud shout so that the earth shook.[#Literally “shouted a great shout”]
6When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What is the noise of this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” Then they learned that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.
7So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come to the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us, for this has never happened before![#Or “gods have come”; #Literally “it has not happened like this since yesterday and since the day before that”]
8Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the same gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert.
9Take courage and be men, you Philistines, lest you end up serving the Hebrews just like they have served you. Be men and fight!”
10So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated and each man fled to his tent, for the slaughter was very great. Thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.
11Furthermore, the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.[#Or “taken”]
12A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that same day, and his clothes were torn and earth was on his head.
13When he came, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road watching, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. Now the man had come to give his report in the city, and all the city cried out.[#Literally “look”; #Literally “by the hand of the road”; #Literally “to tell”]
14When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What is the noise of this commotion?” Then the man came quickly and told Eli.[#Literally “hastened and came”]
15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes stayed fixed ahead and he was not able to see.[#Literally “a son of ninety and eight years”; #Literally “were standing”]
16And the man said to Eli, “I am the one who has come from the battle line! I have fled today from the battle line!” And he said, “What exactly happened, my son?”[#Literally “what is the thing/matter”]
17Then the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines. There has been a great defeat among the troops. Also, your two sons have died, Hophni and Phinehas, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18Just as he mentioned the ark of God, he fell from his chair backwards against the side of the gate. He broke his neck and died, because the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.[#That is, Eli]
19Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news concerning the capture of the ark of God and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she went into labor and gave birth, because her labor pains came upon her.[#Literally “bowed down”]
20Just before the time of her death, those attending her said, “Do not fear, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer, or pay any attention.[#Literally “standing over her”; #Literally “set her heart”]
21She called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and concerning her father-in-law and husband.[#The name “Ichabod” means “no glory”]
22And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God was captured.”[#Or “taken”]