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 cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 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, Hophni and Phinehas, 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, Hophni and Phinehas, 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, Phinehas’ 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 born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child I-chabod, 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.
1 撒母耳的话传遍了以色列。那时, 以色列人出去迎战非利士人, 他们靠近以便以谢安营, 非利士人却在亚弗安营。
2 非利士人列阵, 要与以色列人交战。战事展开后, 以色列人败在非利士人面前, 非利士人在战场上杀了约四千人。
3 军队回到营里, 以色列的长老说: "今天耶和华为什么在非利士人面前击败我们呢?我们要把耶和华的约柜从示罗抬到我们这里来。约柜一到我们中间, 就会拯救我们脱离仇敌的手。"
4 于是他们派人到示罗去, 从那里把坐在二基路伯中间万军之耶和华的约柜抬来; 以利的两个儿子, 何弗尼和非尼哈, 也与 神的约柜一同来了。
5 耶和华的约柜来到营中的时候, 以色列众人就大声欢呼, 大地也回声响应。
6 非利士人听见了欢呼的声音, 就问: "在希伯来人的营中为什么有这样大声的欢呼呢?"后来才知道耶和华的约柜来到了营中。
7 非利士人就害怕起来, 他们说: "有神来到他们的营中了。"又说: "我们有祸了! 因为从来没有这样的事。
8 我们有祸了! 从前在旷野用各样灾祸击打埃及人的, 就是这些神。谁能救我们脱离这些大能之神的手呢?
9 非利士人哪! 你们要刚强, 要作大丈夫, 免得你们作希伯来人的奴仆, 好像他们作过你们的奴仆一样; 你们要作大丈夫, 作战吧! "
10 于是非利士人起来作战, 以色列人就被击败, 各人都往自己的帐棚逃跑。这是一场大屠杀, 以色列人中有三万步兵阵亡。
11 神的约柜也被抢去, 以利的两个儿子何弗尼和非尼哈也死了。
12 有一个便雅悯人跑离战场, 衣服撕裂, 头蒙尘土, 当天来到示罗。
13 他来到的时候, 以利正在路旁坐在自己的椅子上观望, 因为他为 神的约柜担忧战栗。那人进城里报信, 全城的人就都喊叫起来。
14 以利听见喊叫的声音, 就问: "这喧嚷的声音是什么意思呢?"那人急忙前来, 向以利报告。
15 那时以利九十八岁了, 眼睛发直, 不能看见。
16 那人告诉以利: "我是从战场上来的, 今天从战场上逃回来。"以利问: "我儿, 事情怎么样?"
17 报信的人回答, 说: "以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑, 伤亡惨重, 你两个儿子何弗尼和非尼哈也都死了, 民中被杀的甚多, 神的约柜也被抢去了。"
18 因为以利年老体重, 报信的人一提到 神的约柜, 以利就从椅子上往后跌倒在门旁, 颈骨折断而死。以利治理了以色列四十年。
19 以利的媳妇, 非尼哈的妻子怀了孕, 产期近了; 她一听见 神的约柜被抢去, 以及她公公和丈夫都死了的消息, 就忽然感到疼痛, 曲身生产了。
20 她快要死的时候, 站在旁边的妇女们对她说: "不要怕, 你生了一个儿子! "她却不回答, 也不理会。
21 她给孩子起名叫以迦博, 说: "荣耀已经离开以色列了。"这是因为 神的约柜被抢去, 又因为她的公公和丈夫都死了。
22 她说: "荣耀已经离开了以色列, 因为 神的约柜被抢去了。"