1 Samuel 4:4-19

1 Samuel 4:4-19

[4] So the people  sent  to Shiloh,  that they might bring  from thence the ark  of the covenant  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?  that smote  the Egyptians  with all the plagues  in the wilderness.  [9] Be strong,  and quit  O ye Philistines,  that ye be not servants  unto the Hebrews,  as they have been  to you: quit  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 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