The Philistines Capture the Ark

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (of Samuel) לְכָל־ (to all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel).

וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And went out) יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ (Israel) לִקְרַ֨את (to meet) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (the Philistines) לַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (in the battle), וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ (and they encamped) עַל־ (beside) הָאֶ֣בֶן (Eben-) הָעֵ֔זֶר (ezer). וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (And the Philistines) חָנ֥וּ (encamped) בַאֲפֵֽק׃ (in Aphek). 2  וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ (And arrayed themselves) פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (the Philistines) לִקְרַ֣את (against) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel), וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ (and spread) הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (the battle), וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף (and was defeated) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לִפְנֵ֣י (by) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines), וַיַּכּ֤וּ (and they struck down) בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ (among the ranks) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field) כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת (about four) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

3  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And had come) הָעָם֮ (the people) אֶל־ (into) הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ (the camp), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and said) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), לָ֣מָּה (Why) נְגָפָ֧נוּ (has defeated us) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) הַיּ֖וֹם (today) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines)? נִקְחָ֧ה (Let us bring) אֵלֵ֣ינוּ (for ourselves) מִשִּׁלֹ֗ה (from Shiloh) אֶת־ (-) אֲרוֹן֙ (the ark) בְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְיָבֹ֣א (that when it comes) בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ (into our midst), וְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּ (and it may save us) מִכַּ֥ף (from the hand) אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ (of our enemies).

4  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) הָעָם֙ (the people) שִׁלֹ֔ה (to Shiloh), וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ (and they lifted) מִשָּׁ֗ם (from there) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲר֧וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) צְבָא֖וֹת (of Hosts), יֹשֵׁ֣ב (inhabiting) הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים (the cherubim). וְשָׁ֞ם (And were there) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) עֵלִ֗י (of Eli) עִם־ (with) אֲרוֹן֙ (the ark) בְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God)— חָפְנִ֖י (Hophni) וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃ (and Phinehas).

5  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) כְּב֨וֹא (the coming in) אֲר֤וֹן (of the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֶל־ (into) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp), וַיָּרִ֥עוּ (and shouted) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) תְּרוּעָ֣ה (a shout) גְדוֹלָ֑ה (great), וַתֵּהֹ֖ם (and resounded) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth).

6  וַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ (And heard) פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (the Philistines) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (the noise) הַתְּרוּעָ֔ה (of the shout), וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and they said), מֶ֠ה (What is) ק֣וֹל (the sound) הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה (of the shout) הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה (great) הַזֹּ֖את (this) בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (in the camp) הָעִבְרִ֑ים (of the Hebrews)?

וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ (And they understood) כִּ֚י (that) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) בָּ֖א (had come) אֶל־ (into) הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (the camp). 7  וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ (And were afraid) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines), כִּ֣י (for) אָמְר֔וּ (they said), בָּ֥א (Have come) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (the gods) אֶל־ (into) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp). וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ (And they said), א֣וֹי (Woe) לָ֔נוּ (to us) כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֥א (not) הָיְתָ֛ה (has there been) כָּזֹ֖את (such as this) אֶתְמ֥וֹל (before) שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃ (heretofore). 8  א֣וֹי (Woe) לָ֔נוּ (to us)! מִ֣י (Who) יַצִּילֵ֔נוּ (will snatch us up) מִיַּ֛ד (from the hand) הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים (of the gods) הָאַדִּירִ֖ים (mighty) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these)? אֵ֧לֶּה (These) הֵ֣ם (are) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (the gods) הַמַּכִּ֧ים (who struck) אֶת־ (-) מִצְרַ֛יִם (Egypt) בְּכָל־ (with all) מַכָּ֖ה (the plagues) בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (in the wilderness). 9  הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ (Be strong) וִֽהְי֤וּ (and be) לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (like men), פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (O Philistines), פֶּ֚ן (that) תַּעַבְד֣וּ (you⁺ do not become servants) לָעִבְרִ֔ים (of the Hebrews) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עָבְד֖וּ (they have been) לָכֶ֑ם (to you⁺). וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם (And be) לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (like men) וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃ (and fight).

10  וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ (And fought) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (the Philistines) וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף (and was defeated) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙ (and fled) אִ֣ישׁ (every man) לְאֹהָלָ֔יו (to his tent), וַתְּהִ֥י (and there was) הַמַּכָּ֖ה (a slaughter) גְּדוֹלָ֣ה (great) מְאֹ֑ד (very), וַיִּפֹּל֙ (and there fell) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (from Israel) שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (thirty) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) רַגְלִֽי׃ (foot soldiers). 11  וַאֲר֥וֹן (And the ark) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) נִלְקָ֑ח (was captured), וּשְׁנֵ֤י (and the two) בְנֵֽי־ (sons) עֵלִי֙ (of Eli) מֵ֔תוּ (died)— חָפְנִ֖י (Hophni) וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃ (and Phinehas).

The Death of Eli

12  וַיָּ֤רָץ (And ran) אִישׁ־ (a man) בִּנְיָמִן֙ (of Benjamin) מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה (from the battle line), וַיָּבֹ֥א (and he came) שִׁלֹ֖ה (to Shiloh) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֑וּא (that)— וּמַדָּ֣יו (and his clothes) קְרֻעִ֔ים (were torn) וַאֲדָמָ֖ה (and dirt) עַל־ (was on) רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (his head). 13  וַיָּב֗וֹא (And he came), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), עֵ֠לִי (Eli) יֹשֵׁ֨ב (was sitting) עַֽל־ (on) הַכִּסֵּ֜א (the seat) יַךְ (by the side) דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (of the way) מְצַפֶּ֔ה (watching), כִּֽי־ (for) הָיָ֤ה (had been) לִבּוֹ֙ (his heart) חָרֵ֔ד (trembling) עַ֖ל (for) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God).

וְהָאִ֗ישׁ (And the man) בָּ֚א (came) לְהַגִּ֣יד (and told it) בָּעִ֔יר (in the city), וַתִּזְעַ֖ק (and cried out) כָּל־ (all) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city).

14  וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (And heard) עֵלִי֙ (Eli) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (the noise) הַצְּעָקָ֔ה (of the outcry), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), מֶ֛ה (What is) ק֥וֹל (the sound) הֶהָמ֖וֹן (of the tumult) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)?

וְהָאִ֣ישׁ (And the man) מִהַ֔ר (hurried), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and came in) וַיַּגֵּ֥ד (and declared) לְעֵלִֽי׃ (to Eli). 15  וְעֵלִ֕י (And Eli) בֶּן־ (was a son) תִּשְׁעִ֥ים (of ninety) וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה (and eight) שָׁנָ֑ה (years), וְעֵינָ֣יו (and his eyes) קָ֔מָה (stood), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָכ֖וֹל (he could) לִרְאֽוֹת׃ (see).

16  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הָאִ֜ישׁ (the man) אֶל־ (to) עֵלִ֗י (Eli), אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I am) הַבָּ֣א (he who came) מִן־ (from) הַמַּעֲרָכָ֔ה (the battle), וַאֲנִ֕י (and I) מִן־ (from) הַמַּעֲרָכָ֖ה (the battle line) נַ֣סְתִּי (have fled) הַיּ֑וֹם (today)

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (and he said), מֶֽה־ (ô what) הָיָ֥ה (has been) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the matter), בְּנִֽי׃ (my son)?

17  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר (the messenger) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), נָ֤ס (Has fled) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines), וְגַ֛ם (and) מַגֵּפָ֥ה (a slaughter) גְדוֹלָ֖ה (great) הָיְתָ֣ה (there has been) בָעָ֑ם (among the people), וְגַם־ (and) שְׁנֵ֨י (two) בָנֶ֜יךָ (your sons) מֵ֗תוּ (are dead)— חָפְנִי֙ (Hophni) וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס (and Phinehas)— וַאֲר֥וֹן (and the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) נִלְקָֽחָה׃פ (has been captured).

18  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ׀ (at his mentioning of) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), וַיִּפֹּ֣ל (that he fell) מֵֽעַל־ (off) הַ֠כִּסֵּא (the seat) אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית (backward) בְּעַ֣ד׀ (by) יַ֣ד (the side) הַשַּׁ֗עַר (of the gate), וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר (and was broken) מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ (his neck), וַיָּמֹ֔ת (and he died), כִּֽי־ (for) זָקֵ֥ן (was old) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the man) וְכָבֵ֑ד (and heavy). וְה֛וּא (And he) שָׁפַ֥ט (had judged) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) שָׁנָֽה׃ (years).

19  וְכַלָּת֣וֹ (And his daughter-in-law), אֵֽשֶׁת־ (wife) פִּינְחָס֮ (of Phinehas), הָרָ֣ה (was pregnant) לָלַת֒ (about to give birth), וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע (and she heard) אֶת־ (-) הַשְּׁמֻעָ֔ה (the news) אֶל־ (that) הִלָּקַח֙ (was captured) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) וּמֵ֥ת (and were dead) חָמִ֖יהָ (her father-in-law) וְאִישָׁ֑הּ (and her husband), וַתִּכְרַ֣ע (and she bowed herself) וַתֵּ֔לֶד (and gave birth), כִּֽי־ (for) נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ (came) עָלֶ֖יהָ (upon her) צִרֶֽיהָ׃ (her labor pains).

20  וּכְעֵ֣ת (And at the time) מוּתָ֗הּ (of her death), וַתְּדַבֵּ֙רְנָה֙ (and said) הַנִּצָּב֣וֹת (the women who stood by her) עָלֶ֔יהָ (to her), אַל־ (Not) תִּֽירְאִ֖י (do fear), כִּ֣י (for) בֵ֣ן (a son) יָלָ֑דְתְּ (you have borne).

וְלֹ֥א (Not) עָנְתָ֖ה (she did answer) וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁ֥תָה (set) לִבָּֽהּ׃ (her heart to it). 21  וַתִּקְרָ֣א (And she named) לַנַּ֗עַר (the child) אִֽי־ (-) כָבוֹד֙ (Ichabod), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), גָּלָ֥ה (Has departed) כָב֖וֹד (the glory) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (from Israel), אֶל־ (because) הִלָּקַח֙ (had been captured) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וְאֶל־ (and because) חָמִ֖יהָ (of her father-in-law) וְאִישָֽׁהּ׃ (and her husband).

22  וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (And she said), גָּלָ֥ה (Has departed) כָב֖וֹד (the glory) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (from Israel), כִּ֥י (for) נִלְקַ֖ח (has been captured) אֲר֥וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃פ (of God).