Holy Bible
(King James Version)
First
Samuel: Chapter 4
1. 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. 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.
3. 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. 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
cher-u-bims: and the two sons of Eli, Hoph-ni and Phin-e-has, were there
with the ark of the covenant of God.
5. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
10. 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. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hoph-ni and
Phin-e-has, were slain.
12. 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. 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. 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. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that
he could not see.
16. 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. 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, Hoph-ni and Phin-e-has are dead, and the
ark of God is taken.
18. 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.
19. And his daughter in law, Phin-e-has' 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. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said
unto her, Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But she answered
not, neither did she regard it.
21. And she named the child I-cha-bod, 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. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God
is taken.
Apr. 6 Daily reading
schedule.. go to Chapter 5
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