The Philistines Capture the Ark
Samuel’s word reaches Israel as the nation goes out to battle and suffers an early defeat. The elders decide to bring the ark from Shiloh, with Hophni and Phinehas beside it, hoping it will save them.
T1hus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 2Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield. 3When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
The ark’s arrival fills Israel’s camp with shouting, and the noise shakes the ground. The Philistines realize what has happened, fear the God of Israel, and then steady themselves for battle.
5When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” 7And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. 8Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
The Philistines fight and overwhelm Israel with a far greater slaughter than before. The ark is captured, and Hophni and Phinehas die.
10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great — thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.