Moving the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord God |
1 Samuel 4:1-22 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
The word of Samuel came to all [of] Israel. Now, Israel went out to battle against the Philistines & pitched [their tents, net to] Ebenezer & the Philistines pitched [tents] in Aphek. |
The Philistines put themselves in [battle order] against Israel & when they joined [the] battle, Israel was [defeated] before the Philistines [who killed] 4,000 men of the army in the field. |
When the [Israelite] people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, [Why has] the Lord [allowed us to be defeated] before the Philistines today? [Let’s get] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord [from] Shiloh & [bring it] to us, [so] when [it’s] among us, it may save us from the hand of our enemies. |
So, the people sent to Shiloh, [so] they might bring the Ark of the Covenant [contract] of the Lord of Hosts, [Who] dwells between the cherubim. |
[1 Kings 8:6-7 And the priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to [its] place, into the [sanctuary] of the [tabernacle,] to the Most Holy Place, even under the wings of the [2 cherubim,] [statues.] For the cherubims spread [out] their 2 wings over the place of the Ark & the cherubims covered the Ark & the [its poles] above [it.] |
And [Eli’s] 2 sons: Hophni & Phinehas were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted [loudly,] so that the earth [echoed] again. |
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What does this [loud] shout in the camp of the Hebrews [mean?] They understood that the Ark of the Lord had come into the camp & the Philistines were afraid & said, God [has] come into the camp. Woe to us! For [nothing like this has happened before.] |
Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? These are the Gods [Who attacked] the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong & [conduct] yourselves like men, O you Philistines, [so] you [don’t become] the servants to the Hebrews, [like] they have been to you. |
The Philistines fought & Israel was [defeated by a large] slaughter of 30,000 footmen & the [rest] fled to [their tents.] The Ark of God was taken & Eli’s 2 sons: Hophni & Phinehas, were [killed.] |
A man [of the tribe] of Benjamin ran [from] the army to Shiloh the same day & [tore] his clothes, with [dirt] upon his head [signs of mourning.] Eli sat by the [roadside] watching, [since] his heart trembled [with worry] for the Ark of God. |
When the man came into the city & told [them,] all the city cried out. When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What does this noise mean? The man came [quickly] to Eli & told [him.] |
Now, Eli was 98 years old & his eyes were [so ]dim he couldn’t see [well.] The man told Eli that he fled out of the army today. [Eli asked,] What has [happened,] my son? |
The messenger answered, Israel [has] fled [from the] Philistines & there’s also been a [large] slaughter among the [Israelites] & your 2 sons: Hophni & Phinehas, are also dead & the Ark of God is taken. |
It [happened] when [he mentioned] the Ark of God, [Eli] fell backward off [his] seat by the side of the gate, [broke] his neck & died: for he was an old man & heavy. [Eli] had judged Israel for 40 years. |
[Eli’s] daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, [was about to deliver her child.] When she heard the Ark of God was taken & her father-in-law & husband were [both] dead, she bowed herself [with heavy labor] pains & [gave birth.] |
And about the time of her death, the women [who] stood by her said to her, [Don’t] fear, for you have [delivered] a son. But she [didn’t] answer [or pay attention to] it. |
She named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory [has] departed from Israel: because the Ark of God was taken & because of [the death] of her father-in-law & husband. She said, The glory [has] departed from Israel: for the Ark of God is taken. |