1And the words of Samuel went out to all Israel. And Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and camped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel, and when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand Israelites on the battlefield. 3And when they returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD defeated us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD to us out of Shiloh, so that, when it comes among us, it may save us from our enemies.” 4So the people sent to Shiloh, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, Who dwells between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were also there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel raised a great shout, so that the earth echoed. 6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. 7And the Philistines were afraid; and said, “God has come into their camp.” And, “Woe unto us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all those plagues in the wilderness. 9Be strong, you Philistines, and acquit yourselves like men, so that you do not become servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you: fight like men.” 10And they fought again, and Israel was again beaten, and every man fled to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter - thirty thousand Israelites fell; 11The ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.

12And a man of Benjamin ran from the battle that day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn, and dirt upon his head. 13And when he came, Eli was seated by the road watching; for he feared for the ark of God. And when that man entered the city, and reported what had occurred, all the city cried out. 14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he asked, “What does all this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly to Eli, to tell him. 15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see. 16And the man told Eli, “I have just come from the battle today.” And Eli asked, “What happened there, my son?” 17And he replied, “Israel has fled from before the Philistines, and there was also a great slaughter of Israelites; your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are also dead; and the ark of God was captured.” 18And when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the seat near the gate, broke his neck, and died; for he was an old and heavy man. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19And Eli’s daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to delivery. And when she heard that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and went into labor, as her pains came upon her. 20And as she was dying, the midwives told her, “Fear not; for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer; nor did she regard it. 21And she named the child “Ichabod” (which means “Where is the glory?”), because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel; for the ark of God has been captured.”