1 Samuel 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And it happened that, in those days, the Philistines assembled to fight. And Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and he made camp beside the Stone of Assistance. But the Philistines went to Aphek,	1 and, for al Israel, the word of Samuel was as the word of Yahweh; since Eli was very old and his sonspersisted in their wicked behaviour towards Yahweh. It happened at that time that the Philistines mustered tomake war on Israel and Israel went out to meet them in war, pitching camp near Ebenezer while the Philistinespitched camp at Aphek.
2 and they positioned their troops against Israel. Then, when the conflict began, Israel turned his back to the Philistines. And they were cut down in that conflict, in various places in the fields, about four thousand men.	2 The Philistines drew up their battle-line against Israel, the fighting was fierce, and Israel was beaten bythe Philistines: about four thousand men in their ranks were kil ed on the field of battle.
3 And the people returned to the camp. And those greater by birth of Israel said: “Why has the Lord struck us today before the Philistines? Let us bring to ourselves the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. And let it enter into our midst, so that it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”	3 When the troops returned to camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has Yahweh caused us to be beatenby the Philistines today? Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that, when it goes with us, it may save usfrom the clutches of our enemies.'
4 Therefore, the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God.	4 So the troops sent to Shiloh and brought away the ark of Yahweh Sabaoth enthroned on the wingedcreatures; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord had arrived in the camp, all of Israel shouted with a great clamor, and the land resounded.	5 When the ark of Yahweh arrived in the camp, al Israel raised a great war cry so that the earthresounded.
6 And the Philistines heard the voice of the clamor, and they said, “What is this voice of a great clamor in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they realized that the ark of the Lord had arrived in the camp.	6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the war cry, they said, 'What can this great war cry in theHebrew camp mean?' And they realised that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.
7 And the Philistines were afraid, saying, “God has entered into the camp.” And they groaned, saying:	7 At this, the Philistines were afraid; for they said, 'God has come into the camp. Disaster!' they said. 'Fornothing like this has ever happened before.
8 “Woe to us! For there was no such great exultation yesterday, or the day before. Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of these sublime gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with all the plagues, in the desert.”	8 Disaster! Who will rescue us from the clutches of this mighty God? This was the God who struck downEgypt with every kind of misfortune in the desert.
9 “Be strengthened, and be manly, O Philistines! Otherwise, you may serve the Hebrews, as they also have served you. Be strengthened and wage war!”	9 But take courage and be men, Philistines, or you wil become slaves to the Hebrews as they have beenslaves to you. Be men and fight.'
10 Therefore, the Philistines fought, and Israel was cut down, and each one fled to his own tent. And an exceedingly great slaughter occurred. And thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell.	10 So the Philistines gave battle and Israel was defeated, each man fleeing to his tent. The slaughter wasvery great: on the Israelite side, thirty thousand foot soldiers fel .
11 And the ark of God was captured. Also, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.	11 The ark of God was captured too, and Hophni and Phinehas the two sons of Eli died.
12 Now a man of Benjamin, rushing from the troops, arrived at Shiloh on the same day, with his clothing torn, and with his head sprinkled with dust.	12 A Benjaminite ran from the battle-line and reached Shiloh the same day, his clothes torn and dust onhis head.
13 And when he had arrived, Eli was sitting on a seat opposite the way, gazing out. For his heart was fearful on behalf of the ark of God. Then, after this man entered the city, he announced it to the city. And the entire city wailed.	13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat beside the gate watching the road, for his heart wastrembling for the ark of God. The man came into the town and told the news, whereupon cries of anguish fil edthe town.
14 And Eli heard the sound of the outcry, and he said, “What is this sound, this tumult?” And the man hurried, and he went and announced it to Eli.	14 Eli heard the sound and asked, 'What does this uproar mean?' The man hurried on and told Eli.
15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had dimmed, so that he was not able to see.	15 Eli was ninety-eight years old; his gaze was fixed; he was blind.
16 And he said to Eli: “I am the one who came from the battle. And it is I who fled from the troops today.” And he said to him, “What has happened, my son?”	16 The man said to Eli, 'I have come from the camp. I escaped from the battle-line today.' 'My son,' saidEli, 'what happened?'
17 And responding, the man reported and said: “Israel has fled before the Philistines. And a great ruin has happened to the people. Moreover, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also have died. And the ark of God has been captured.”	17 The messenger replied, 'Israel has fled before the Philistines; the army has been utterly routed. Whatis worse, your two sons are dead and the ark of God has been captured.'
18 And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from the seat backwards, toward the door, and, having broken his neck, he died. For he was an old man of great age. And he judged Israel for forty years.	18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards off his seat by the gate and broke his neck anddied, for he was old and heavy. He had been judge of Israel for forty years.
19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, and her delivery was near. And upon hearing the news that the ark of God had been captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she bent down and went into labor. For her pains rushed upon her suddenly.	19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child and near her time. When she heard thenews that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead she croucheddown and gave birth, for her labour pains had come on.
20 Then, when she was near death, those who were standing around her said to her, “You should not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond to them, and she did not notice them.	20 When she was at the point of death, the women at her side said, 'Do not be afraid; you have givenbirth to a son.' But she did not answer and took no notice.
21 And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory of Israel has been taken away,” because the ark of God was captured, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.	21 She named the child Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has gone from Israel,' al uding to the capture of theark of God and to her father-in-law and husband.
22 And she said, “The glory has been taken away from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured.	22 She said, 'The glory has gone from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured.'