Israel Loses the First Battle
Study note
The Philistines were a powerful enemy who lived along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Israel went out to fight them and set up camp at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. In the battle that followed, Israel was badly defeated, losing about four thousand soldiers.
1 Samuel's messages spread across the whole nation of Israel. Then the Israelites went out to battle against the Philistines. Israel set up camp at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
2 The Philistines lined up for battle against Israel. When the fight began, the Philistines beat Israel and killed about four thousand soldiers out on the battlefield. And 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.
The Ark Is Brought to the Battlefield
Study note
After the defeat, the Israelite elders decided to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield. The ark was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's presence among his people. The elders thought the ark itself would save them, treating it almost like a good luck charm rather than truly turning to God. When the ark arrived, the Israelites shouted so loudly that the ground shook. The Philistines were terrified because they had heard stories about the God of Israel defeating the Egyptians.
3 When the surviving troops limped back to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord let the Philistines defeat us? Let us go get the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh. If we bring it here with us, it will save us from our enemies." And 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.
4 They sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the Lord who sits on his throne above the cherubim angels on the ark. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, came along with it. So 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.
5 When the ark of the Lord's covenant arrived in the camp, every Israelite soldier let out a massive shout. The roar was so loud it shook the ground. And 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.
6 The Philistines heard the thunderous cheering and asked each other, "What is all that shouting in the Hebrew camp about?" Then they found out that the ark of the Lord had arrived. 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? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7 The Philistines were shaken with fear. They said, "A god has shown up in their camp! This is bad news for us! This has never happened before!" And 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.
8 "We are in deep trouble! Who can possibly save us from these powerful gods? These are the same gods who crushed the Egyptians with devastating plagues out in the wilderness." Woe 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.
9 "Get a grip and fight like real men, Philistines! If you do not, you will end up as slaves to the Hebrews the way they have been slaves to you. Stand up and fight!" Be 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.
The Ark Is Captured and Eli's Sons Die
Study note
Despite the presence of the ark, God did not fight for Israel because of their sin and the corruption of Eli's sons. The Philistines won a crushing victory, killing thirty thousand Israelite soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed, exactly as God had warned.
10 The Philistines fought with everything they had, and Israel was defeated. The Israelite soldiers scattered and ran for their homes. It was a devastating loss. Thirty thousand Israelite foot soldiers were killed. And 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.
11 On top of that, the ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were both killed. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Eli Dies at the News
Study note
A messenger from the tribe of Benjamin ran to Shiloh with the terrible news. His clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head, both signs of mourning in ancient Israel. The ninety-eight-year-old Eli was sitting by the road, anxious about the ark. When the messenger delivered the four pieces of bad news one by one, it was the news about the ark being captured that was too much for Eli. He fell backward off his chair, broke his neck, and died. Eli had served as judge over Israel for forty years.
12 A man from the tribe of Benjamin sprinted from the battlefield and reached Shiloh that very day. His clothes were torn and he had dirt on his head to show his grief. And 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.
13 When the man arrived, Eli was sitting in a chair right beside the road, watching anxiously. He was terrified about what might happen to the ark of God. As the man rushed into the city and broke the news, the entire city erupted in cries of anguish. And 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.
14 Eli heard all the wailing and asked, "What is going on? Why is everyone screaming?" The man hurried over to tell Eli. 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 Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes had gotten so bad that he could not see at all anymore. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16 The man told Eli, "I just came from the battlefield. I ran straight here today." Eli asked, "What happened, son?" 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 is there done, my son?
17 The messenger delivered the terrible news: "Israel ran from the Philistines. Our army suffered a horrible slaughter. Both of your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead. And the ark of God has been taken." And 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.
18 The moment the man said the words "the ark of God," Eli fell backwards off his chair beside the gate. He was old and heavy, and the fall broke his neck. He died on the spot. Eli had served as Israel's judge for forty years. And 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.
The Glory Departs from Israel
Study note
Phinehas's wife was pregnant and close to giving birth. When she heard that the ark was captured and that her husband and father-in-law were dead, she went into labor. As she was dying, she named her son Ichabod, which means 'the glory has departed.' She said this because the ark of God, which represented God's glorious presence among his people, had been taken away.
19 Eli's daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, was pregnant and very close to having her baby. When the news reached her that the ark had been captured and that both her father-in-law and husband were dead, the shock sent her into labor. She doubled over in pain and began giving birth. And 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.
20 She was dying. The women helping her tried to comfort her, saying, "Do not give up! You have a baby boy!" But she did not answer them or pay any attention. And 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.
21 She named the baby Ichabod, which means "the glory is gone." She chose that name because the ark of God had been taken and because her father-in-law and her husband were both dead. And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 She whispered, "The glory has left Israel, because the ark of God is gone." And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.