1 Samuel 4:1-11: The Ark of the Covenant and the Defeat of Israel
The Philistines Defeat Israel
1 Samuel 4:1-2
The Israelites Defeated
In those days, the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to battle against the Philistines. The Israelites were defeated, and they fled from the Philistines, who killed about 4,000 of their men.
The Ark of the Covenant Brought to the Battlefield
1 Samuel 4:3-5
The Ark's Presence Brings Hope
When the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, so that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all Israel let out a great shout, so that the ground shook.
The Philistines Afraid of the Ark
1 Samuel 4:6-8
The Philistines Prepare for Battle
Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before."
The Philistines Fight Back
1 Samuel 4:9-11
The Ark Captured
The Philistines fought fiercely, and the Israelites were defeated and fled. The Philistines killed about 30,000 of them. They also captured the ark of God and killed Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The ark of God was captured, and the glory had departed from Israel.
