1 Samuel

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

1Samuel's words came to all the people of Israel. Israel went out to fight the Philistines, a strong people nearby. Israel set up camp at a place called Ebenezer. The Philistines set up camp 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 to fight Israel. When the fighting started, Israel lost. About four thousand of Israel's men were killed in the field.

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

3The soldiers went back to their camp. The leaders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD let the Philistines beat us today? Let's bring the ark of the covenant here from Shiloh. Then it will be with us, and it will save us from our enemies."

NoteThe ark of the covenant was a gold-covered wooden chest. It held the stone tablets with God's laws. It was kept in the holy tent at Shiloh.

4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: 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. They brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who sits above the golden cherubim, winged figures on the ark's lid. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark of God.

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

5The ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp. All Israel shouted so loudly 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 the LORD was come into the camp.

6The Philistines heard the shouting. They asked, "Why is there such loud shouting in the Hebrew camp?" Then they found out that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

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.

7The Philistines were afraid. They said, "God has come into their camp! This is bad for us. 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 the plagues in the wilderness.

8"This is bad for us! Who will save us from these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of trouble 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 strong, Philistines! Be brave men! If you don't, you will become slaves to the Hebrews, like they were to you. Be brave men and fight!"

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

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel lost again. Every soldier ran home to his tent. Very many died. Thirty thousand of Israel's foot soldiers were killed.

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

11The ark of God was taken away by the enemy. 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. He reached Shiloh that same day. His clothes were torn and there was dirt on his head. This showed everyone he was full of sadness.

NoteIn those days, people tore their clothes and put dirt on their heads to show great sadness.

13And when he came, lo, Eli sat 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.

13When he got there, Eli was sitting on his chair by the road, watching. Eli was worried about the ark of God. The man went into the town and told the news. Then the whole town cried out loud.

14And 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.

14Eli heard all the crying. He asked, "Why is everyone making so much noise?" The man hurried over and told Eli the news.

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

15Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes did not work anymore, and 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, What is there done, my son?

16The man said to Eli, "I came from the battle. I ran away from there today." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?"

17And the messenger 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 ran away from the Philistines. Very many of our people were killed. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead. And the ark of God has been taken away."

18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the 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 said "the ark of God," Eli fell backward off his chair by the gate. He was old and heavy, so his neck broke and he died. Eli had been Israel's judge, their leader, for forty years.

NoteA judge was not a courtroom judge. He was a leader who guided Israel and helped settle arguments.

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 travailed; for her pains came upon her.

19Eli's son's wife, the wife of Phinehas, was going to have a baby very soon. She heard that the ark of God was taken. She heard that her husband and his father were dead. Then she bent down and had her baby, because the pains came.

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

20She was dying. The women helping her said, "Don't be afraid. You have a son!" But she did not answer them. She paid no 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 baby Ichabod. She said, "The glory is gone from Israel." She said this because the ark of God was taken. She also said it because her husband and his father were dead.

NoteThe name Ichabod means "no glory" or "where is the glory?"

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

22She said, "The glory is gone from Israel. The ark of God has been taken away."