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1 Samuel 4
Expanded Bible
1 Samuel 4
Expanded Bible
4 So, ·news about Samuel [or Samuel’s words] spread through all of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Agreement
At that time the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines [C a rival nation occupying the southwest coast of Israel]. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer [C somewhere near Aphek; means “stone of help”] and the Philistines [L camped] at Aphek [C on the plain of Sharon, northeast of Joppa]. 2 The Philistines ·went [deployed; drew up in battlelines] to meet the Israelites in battle. And ·as the battle spread [or when battle was joined], they defeated the Israelites, killing about four thousand soldiers on the battlefield. 3 When ·some Israelite soldiers [L the troops] went back to their camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord ·let the Philistines defeat us [or defeat/rout us before the Philistines]? Let’s bring the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty] ·with [or of] the Lord [C the Ark represented the presence of God; Ex. 25:10–22] here from Shiloh [1:3] and take it with us into battle. Then ·God [or it] will save us from the ·power [L hand] of our enemies.”
4 So the ·people [or troops] sent men to Shiloh [1:3]. They brought back the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty] ·with [or of] the Lord [4:3] ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; of Hosts], who sits ·between [on] the ·gold creatures with wings [L cherubim; C powerful angelic creatures]. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the Ark [L of the covenant of God].
5 When the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty] ·with [or of] the Lord came into the camp, all the Israelites ·gave a great shout of joy [shouted with a great shout] that made the ground shake. 6 When the Philistines heard Israel’s shout, they asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”
Then the Philistines ·found out [realized; understood] that the Ark of the Lord had come into the Hebrew camp. 7 They were afraid and said, “·A god [or The gods; or God] has come into the Hebrew camp! ·We’re in trouble [L Woe to us; Disaster]! This has never happened before! 8 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] us! Who can ·save [rescue; deliver] us from these powerful gods? ·They are the ones [These are the gods] who ·struck [T smote] the Egyptians with ·all kinds of disasters [plagues] in the ·desert [wilderness; Ex. 7–12]. 9 Be brave, Philistines! Fight like men! In the past they were ·our [your] slaves. So fight like men, or ·we [you] will become their slaves.”
10 So the Philistines fought hard and defeated the Israelites, and every ·Israelite soldier ran away to his own home [man fled to his tent]. It was a great ·defeat [slaughter] for Israel, because thirty thousand Israelite [foot] soldiers ·were killed [L fell]. 11 The Ark of God was ·taken [captured] by the Philistines, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12 That same day a man ·from the tribe of [L of] Benjamin ran from the battle. He tore his clothes and put dust on his head [C to indicate mourning]. 13 When he arrived in Shiloh [1:3], Eli was by the side of the road. He was sitting there in a chair, watching [L eagerly; anxiously], because ·he was worried about [L his heart trembled/feared for] the Ark of God. When the Benjaminite entered Shiloh [1:3], he told ·the bad news [what had happened]. Then all the ·people in town [city; towns] cried loudly. 14 Eli heard the crying and asked, “What’s all this ·noise [commotion]?”
The Benjaminite ran to Eli and told him what had happened. 15 Eli was now ninety-eight years old, and ·he was blind [L his gaze was fixed, so he could not see] . 16 The Benjaminite told him, “I have come from the battle. I ·ran all the way here [escaped/fled from the battle line] today.”
Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
17 The ·Benjaminite [L messenger] answered, “Israel ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, and the ·Israelite army has lost many soldiers [people/troops have been slaughtered]. Your two sons are both dead, and the Philistines have ·taken [captured] the Ark of God.”
18 When he mentioned the Ark of God [4:3], Eli fell backward off his chair. He fell beside the gate, broke his neck, and died, because he was old and ·fat [heavy]. He had ·led [judged; been judge of] Israel for forty years.
The Glory Is Gone
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and was about to give birth. When she heard the news that the Ark of God had been taken and that Eli, her father-in-law, and Phinehas, her husband, were both dead, she ·began to give [went into labor/crouched down and gave] birth to her child. The child was born, but ·the mother had much trouble in giving birth [her labor pains overwhelmed her]. 20 As she was dying, the women who helped her said, “Don’t ·worry [be afraid]! You’ve given birth to a son!” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 She named the baby Ichabod [C meaning “No Glory”], saying, “Israel’s glory ·is gone [has departed].” She said this because the Ark of God had been ·taken [captured] and her father-in-law and husband were dead. 22 She said, “Israel’s glory is ·gone [departed], because the Ark of God has been ·taken away [captured].”
1 Samuel 4
New International Version
1 Samuel 4
New International Version
4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,(A) and the Philistines at Aphek.(B) 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why(C) did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark(D) of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh,(E) so that he may go with us(F) and save us from the hand of our enemies.”
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.(G) And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout(H) that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew(I) camp?”
When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid.(J) “A god has[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck(K) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues(L) in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they(M) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated(N) and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(O)
Death of Eli
12 That same day a Benjamite(P) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(Q) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(R) sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”
The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes(S) had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”
Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”
17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,(T) and the ark of God has been captured.”(U)
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[b](V) Israel forty years.(W)
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod,[c](X) saying, “The Glory(Y) has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory(Z) has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(AA)
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 4:7 Or “Gods have (see Septuagint)
- 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged
- 1 Samuel 4:21 Ichabod means no glory.
1 Samuel 4
Nueva Biblia Viva
1 Samuel 4
Nueva Biblia Viva
Los filisteos capturan el cofre
4 Por aquel tiempo Israel estaba en guerra con los filisteos. Los israelitas estaban acampados cerca de Ebenezer y los filisteos en Afec. 2 Los filisteos derrotaron a Israel y mataron como a cuatro mil. 3 Cuando los israelitas regresaron a su campamento, sus caudillos discutían la causa por la que el Señor había permitido que fueran derrotados.
«Traigamos el cofre desde Siló —dijeron—. Si la llevamos con nosotros a la batalla, el Señor estará entre nosotros y seguramente nos salvará de nuestros enemigos».
4 Entonces mandaron a buscar el cofre del Señor de los cielos, quien está entronado por sobre los querubines. Y los hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finés la acompañaron hasta el campamento. 5 Cuando los israelitas vieron que el cofre venía, gritaron con tanta alegría y con tanta fuerza que casi hicieron temblar la tierra.
6 «¿Que pasa? —se preguntaban los filisteos—. ¿A qué se debe todo ese griterío en el campamento de los hebreos?».
Cuando supieron que se debía a que el cofre de Dios había llegado, 7 se llenaron de pánico.
«Un dios ha venido al campamento de ellos —gritaban—. ¡Ay de nosotros! Porque nunca habíamos tenido que enfrentarnos con algo semejante. 8 ¿Quién puede salvarnos de estos dioses de Israel? Porque son los mismos dioses que destruyeron a los egipcios con plagas cuando Israel estaba en el desierto. 9 Debemos pelear como nunca antes, filisteos, o seremos esclavos de ellos así como ellos han sido esclavos de nosotros».
10 Los filisteos pelearon tan desesperadamente que vencieron a Israel nuevamente. Treinta mil soldados de la infantería israelita murieron aquel día y los restantes huyeron. 11 Y el cofre de Dios fue capturado y Ofni y Finés murieron.
Muerte de Elí
12 Un hombre de la tribu de Benjamín corrió desde el campo de batalla y llegó a Siló el mismo día con sus ropas rasgadas y con polvo en la cabeza.[a] 13 Elí esperaba a la orilla del camino para tener noticias de la batalla, porque su corazón temblaba pensando en la seguridad del cofre de Dios. Cuando llegó el mensajero del frente de batalla y contó lo ocurrido, se oyó un gran clamor en toda la ciudad.
14-15 ―¿A qué se debe todo ese bullicio?, preguntó Elí, que para entonces ya tenía noventa años y estaba ciego. Y el mensajero corrió a darle las noticias.
16 ―Vengo del campo de batalla; hoy mismo escapé de allí —le dijo a Elí.
―¿Qué noticias traes, hijo mío? —preguntó el anciano.
17 ―Que Israel ha huido ante los filisteos, y miles de soldados israelitas yacen muertos en el campo de batalla. Ofni y Finés, tus dos hijos, también murieron, y el cofre de Dios fue capturado.
18 Cuando el mensajero mencionó el cofre, Elí cayó hacia atrás de su asiento que estaba junto a la puerta y se desnucó y murió, porque estaba viejo y gordo. Había juzgado a Israel durante cuarenta años.
19 Cuando la nuera de Elí, esposa de Finés, que estaba esperando un hijo, oyó que había sido capturado el cofre y que su marido y su suegro estaban muertos, empezó a sentir los dolores del parto. 20 Mientras agonizaba, las mujeres que la atendían le dijeron que se animara porque todo estaba bien y que el niño había sido varón. Pero ella no reaccionó de ninguna manera. 21-22 Luego murmuró: «Pónganle Icabod (No hay gloria), porque la gloria se ha apartado de Israel».
Ella le puso este nombre porque el cofre de Dios había sido capturado y porque su marido y su suegro estaban muertos.
Footnotes
- 4.12 Señal de dolor, común en aquellos días.
1 Samuel 4
New King James Version
1 Samuel 4
New King James Version
The Death of Eli
4 And the word of Samuel came to all [a]Israel.
The Ark of God Captured
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside (A)Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the (B)Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was [b]defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? (C)Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, (D)who dwells between (E)the cherubim. And the (F)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 so loudly that the earth shook. 6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. 7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, (G)“Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 (H)Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, (I)as they have been to you. [c]Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and (J)Israel was [d]defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also (K)the ark of God was captured; and (L)the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Death of Eli
12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and (M)came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and (N)dirt on his head. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on (O)a seat [e]by the wayside watching, for his heart [f]trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the sound of this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and (P)his eyes were so [g]dim that he could not see.
16 Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.”
And he said, (Q)“What happened, my son?”
17 So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
Ichabod
19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death (R)the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she [h]regard it. 21 Then she named the child (S)Ichabod,[i] saying, (T)“The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 4:1 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. add And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight; LXX adds further against Israel
- 1 Samuel 4:2 Lit. struck
- 1 Samuel 4:9 Lit. Be men
- 1 Samuel 4:10 Lit. struck down
- 1 Samuel 4:13 So with MT, Vg.; LXX beside the gate watching the road
- 1 Samuel 4:13 trembled with anxiety
- 1 Samuel 4:15 fixed
- 1 Samuel 4:20 pay any attention to
- 1 Samuel 4:21 Lit. Inglorious
Expanded Bible (EXB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Nueva Biblia Viva (NBV)
Nueva Biblia Viva, © 2006, 2008 por Biblica, Inc.® Usado con permiso de Biblica, Inc.® Reservados todos los derechos en todo el mundo.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.