Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When the people of Israel heard Samuel's words, they marched out to battle against the Philistines. They camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

The Philistines formed their army lines against Israel, and when the two forces clashed, Israel was defeated before the Philistines. About four thousand soldiers of Israel fell on the battlefield.

As the people arrived back at their camp, the elders asked, "Why has the Lord struck us down today before the Philistines? We'll bring the ark of the covenant with us from Shiloh so it can save us from our enemies."

The people sent to Shiloh and brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which lives among the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's two sons, were there with the ark.

When the ark arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted with a mighty roar. The Philistines heard the loud shout and asked, "What's happening?"

They were terrified, saying, "God has invaded our camp!" They exclaimed, "Disaster! This has never happened before!"

Woe to us! Who can rescue us from the power of these powerful gods who struck down Egypt with all its plagues in the wilderness? Be strong and fight like men, Philistines. Don't become servants to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be strong and fight.

The Philistines fought on, but Israel suffered a crushing defeat, losing thirty thousand foot soldiers in battle. The ark of God was taken, and Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's two sons, were killed.

A man from Benjamin escaped from the battlefield and ran to Shiloh that day with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, Eli sat by the side of the road, watching with a trembling heart because of the ark of God.

As the man entered the city and told what had happened, the whole town erupted in cries. Eli heard the commotion and asked, "What's happening?"

Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were dim with age. The man replied, "I'm the one who escaped from the army today. I've come to tell you what happened."

Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there's been a great slaughter among our people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is gone.

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli's son fell from his seat backward by the gate and died. This old man had judged Israel for forty years.

Eli's daughter-in-law, who was pregnant and near delivery, heard that the ark of God was taken and her father-in-law and husband were dead. She went into labor pain.

Just as she gave birth to a son, the women around her said, "Don't be afraid; you've given birth to a boy." But she didn't respond. She named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel."

This is because the ark of God was taken, and her father-in-law and husband were among those who lost it. The glory has indeed departed from Israel, for the ark of God is gone.

The women standing by her said, "Don't be afraid; you've given birth to a son," but she didn't respond. She named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel."