1 Samuel 4:1-3

Christian Standard Bible

4 And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.

The Ark Captured by the Philistines

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and^[a] camped at Ebenezer^(A) while the Philistines camped at Aphek.^{(B) 2} The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

³ When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord defeat us today before the Philistines?^(C) Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it^[b] will go with us and save us from our enemies.”^(D)