1 Samuel 3-6
New King James Version
Samuel’s First Prophecy
3 Now (A)the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And (B)the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow (C)so dim that he could not see, 3 and before (D)the lamp of God went out in the [a]tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”
And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.
6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!”
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel (E)did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, (F)‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel (G)at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli (H)all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 (I)For I have told him that I will (J)judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because (K)his sons made themselves vile, and he (L)did not [b]restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house (M)shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
15 So Samuel lay down until [c]morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!”
He answered, “Here I am.”
17 And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. (N)God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.” 18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, (O)“It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”
19 So Samuel (P)grew, and (Q)the Lord was with him (R)and let none of his words [d]fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel (S)from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been [e]established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by (T)the word of the Lord.
The Death of Eli
4 And the word of Samuel came to all [f]Israel.
The Ark of God Captured
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside (U)Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the (V)Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was [g]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? (W)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, (X)who dwells between (Y)the cherubim. And the (Z)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, (AA)“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 (AB)Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, (AC)as they have been to you. [h]Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought, and (AD)Israel was [i]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 (AE)the ark of God was captured; and (AF)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 (AG)came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and (AH)dirt on his head. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on (AI)a seat [j]by the wayside watching, for his heart [k]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 (AJ)his eyes were so [l]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, (AK)“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 (AL)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 [m]regard it. 21 Then she named the child (AM)Ichabod,[n] saying, (AN)“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.”
The Philistines and the Ark
5 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it (AO)from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of (AP)Dagon[o] and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, (AQ)fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and (AR)set it in its place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. (AS)The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only [p]Dagon’s torso was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house (AT)tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 But the (AU)hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He (AV)ravaged them and struck them with (AW)tumors,[q] both Ashdod and its (AX)territory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the (AY)God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.” 8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the (AZ)lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to (BA)Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. 9 So it was, after they had carried it away, that (BB)the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, [r]and tumors broke out on them.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the (BC)cry of the city went up to heaven.
The Ark Returned to Israel
6 Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines (BD)called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”
3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it (BE)empty; but by all means return it to Him with (BF)a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”
4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”
They answered, (BG)“Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of [s]you and on your lords. 5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that (BH)ravage the land, and you shall (BI)give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will (BJ)lighten[t] His hand from you, from (BK)your gods, and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts (BL)as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, (BM)did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 7 Now therefore, make (BN)a new cart, take two milk cows (BO)which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart; and put (BP)the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to (BQ)Beth Shemesh, then He has done [u]us this great evil. But if not, then (BR)we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”
10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the (BS)highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their (BT)wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to the Lord. 16 So when (BU)the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
17 (BV)These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for (BW)Gath, one for Ekron; 18 and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the Lord, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19 Then (BX)He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. [v]He (BY)struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.
The Ark at Kirjath Jearim
20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, (BZ)“Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of (CA)Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up with you.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 3:3 palace or temple
- 1 Samuel 3:13 Lit. rebuke
- 1 Samuel 3:15 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX adds and he arose in the morning
- 1 Samuel 3:19 fail
- 1 Samuel 3:20 confirmed
- 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
- 1 Samuel 5:2 A Philistine idol
- 1 Samuel 5:4 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT Dagon
- 1 Samuel 5:6 Probably bubonic plague. LXX, Vg. add And in the midst of their land rats sprang up, and there was a great death panic in the city.
- 1 Samuel 5:9 Vg. and they had tumors in their secret parts
- 1 Samuel 6:4 Lit. them
- 1 Samuel 6:5 ease
- 1 Samuel 6:9 this calamity to us
- 1 Samuel 6:19 Or He struck seventy men of the people and fifty oxen of a man
撒母耳记上 3-6
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
耶和华向撒母耳显现
3 那孩子撒母耳在以利面前事奉耶和华。在那些日子，耶和华的言语稀少，不常有异象。 2 那时，以利在自己的地方睡觉；他眼目开始昏花，不能看见。 3 神的灯还没有熄灭，撒母耳睡在耶和华的殿内， 神的约柜就在那里。 4 耶和华呼唤撒母耳，撒母耳说：“我在这里！” 5 他跑到以利那里，说：“你叫我吗？我在这里。”以利说：“我没有叫你，回去睡吧。”他就回去睡了。 6 耶和华又呼唤撒母耳。撒母耳起来，到以利那里，说：“你叫我吗？我在这里。”以利说：“我儿，我没有叫你，回去睡吧。” 7 那时撒母耳还未认识耶和华，耶和华的话也未曾向他启示。 8 耶和华第三次再呼唤撒母耳。撒母耳起来，到以利那里，说：“你叫我吗？我在这里。”以利才明白是耶和华呼唤这小孩。 9 以利对撒母耳说：“你回去睡吧。他若再叫你，你就说：‘耶和华啊，请说，仆人敬听！’”撒母耳就回去，仍睡在原处。
10 耶和华来站着，像前几次呼唤：“撒母耳！撒母耳！”撒母耳说：“请说，仆人敬听！” 11 耶和华对撒母耳说：“看哪，我在以色列中必行一件事，凡听见的人都必双耳齐鸣。 12 我指着以利家所说的话，到了时候，必从头到尾应验在以利身上。 13 我曾告诉他，我必永远惩罚他的家，因为他知道自己的儿子作恶，亵渎 神[a]，却不禁止他们。 14 所以我向以利家起誓：‘以利家的罪孽，就是献祭物和供物，也永不得赎。’”
15 撒母耳睡到天亮，就开了耶和华殿的门。撒母耳害怕，不敢将异象告诉以利。 16 以利呼唤撒母耳说：“我儿撒母耳！”撒母耳说：“我在这里！” 17 以利说：“他对你说了什么话，你不要向我隐瞒。你若将他对你所说的话向我隐瞒一句，愿 神重重惩罚你。” 18 撒母耳就把一切话都告诉以利，并没有隐瞒。以利说：“他是耶和华，愿他照他看为好的去做。”
19 撒母耳长大了，耶和华与他同在，使他所说的话一句都不落空。 20 从但到别是巴，所有的以色列人都知道耶和华立撒母耳为先知。 21 耶和华又在示罗显现，因为耶和华在示罗藉他的话向撒母耳启示他自己。
4 撒母耳的话传遍了全以色列。
约柜被掳
以色列人出去与非利士人打仗，安营在以便‧以谢，非利士人安营在亚弗。 2 非利士人向以色列人摆阵。两军交战的时候，以色列人败在非利士人面前；非利士人在战场上杀了他们约四千人。 3 百姓回到营里，以色列的长老说：“耶和华今日为何使我们败在非利士人面前呢？我们要将耶和华的约柜从示罗抬到我们这里来，好让他来到我们中间，救我们脱离敌人的手掌。” 4 于是百姓派人到示罗，从那里将坐在二基路伯上万军之耶和华的约柜抬来。以利的两个儿子何弗尼、非尼哈也与 神的约柜同来。
5 耶和华的约柜到了营中，全以色列就大声欢呼，连地都震动。 6 非利士人听见欢呼的声音，就说：“为何希伯来人在营里这么大声欢呼呢？”他们知道耶和华的约柜到了营中。 7 非利士人就惧怕，说：“有神明到了他们营中。”又说：“我们有祸了！从来不曾有这样的事。 8 我们有祸了！谁能救我们脱离这些大能之神明的手呢？从前在旷野用各样灾祸击打埃及人的，就是这些神明。 9 非利士人哪，要刚强，要作大丈夫，免得作希伯来人的奴仆，如同他们作你们的奴仆一样。你们要作大丈夫，与他们争战。” 10 非利士人进攻，以色列人败了，各往自己的家逃跑。被杀的人很多，以色列倒下的步兵有三万。 11 神的约柜被掳去，以利的两个儿子何弗尼、非尼哈也都被杀了。
以利的死
12 有一个便雅悯人从战场上逃跑，衣服撕裂，头蒙灰尘，当日来到示罗。 13 他到了的时候，看哪，以利正坐在路旁的位子上观望，为 神的约柜心里担忧。那人进城报信，全城的人就都呼喊起来。 14 以利听见呼喊的声音就说：“这喧嚷的声音是什么呢？”那人急忙来报信给以利。 15 那时以利九十八岁了，两眼发直，不能看见。 16 那人对以利说：“我是从战场上来的，今日刚从战场上逃回来。”以利说：“我儿，事情怎样了？” 17 报信的回答说：“以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑，百姓中被杀的很多！你的两个儿子何弗尼和非尼哈也都死了，并且 神的约柜已经被掳去了。” 18 他一提到 神的约柜，以利就从城门旁自己的位子上往后跌倒，折断颈项而死，因为他年纪老迈，身体沉重。以利作以色列的士师四十年。
非尼哈遗孀的死
19 以利的媳妇，非尼哈的妻子怀孕将到产期，她听见 神的约柜被掳，公公和丈夫都死了，就曲身生产，极其疼痛。 20 她将要死的时候，旁边站着的妇人们对她说：“不要怕！你生了男孩了。”她不回答，也不放在心上。 21 她给孩子起名叫以迦博[b]，说：“荣耀离开以色列了！”这是因为 神的约柜被掳去，又因为她公公和丈夫都死了。 22 她又说：“荣耀离开以色列，因为 神的约柜被掳去了。”
约柜在非利士人当中
5 非利士人掳去 神的约柜，从以便‧以谢带到亚实突。 2 非利士人掳了 神的约柜，带进大衮庙，放在大衮的旁边。 3 次日，亚实突人清早起来，看哪，大衮仆倒在耶和华的约柜前，脸伏于地，他们就扶起大衮，把它放回原处。 4 又次日，他们清早起来，看哪，大衮仆倒在耶和华的约柜前，脸伏于地，并且大衮的头和两手都在门槛上折断，只剩下大衮的躯干。 5 因此，大衮的祭司和所有进大衮庙的人，都不踏亚实突的大衮庙的门槛，直到今日。
6 耶和华的手重重击打亚实突人，使他们恐惧，使亚实突和亚实突周围的人都生痔疮。 7 亚实突人见这情况，就说：“以色列 神的约柜不可留在我们这里，因为他的手重重击打我们和我们的神明大衮”。 8 他们就派人去请非利士的众领袖来聚集，对他们说：“我们向以色列 神的约柜应当怎样做呢？”他们说：“可以把以色列 神的约柜运到迦特去。”于是他们把以色列 神的约柜运到那里。 9 运到之后，耶和华的手击打那城，使那城的人非常惊慌，无论大小都生痔疮。 10 他们就把 神的约柜送到以革伦。 神的约柜到了以革伦，以革伦人就呼喊说：“他们把以色列 神的约柜运到我这里，要害我和我的百姓！” 11 于是他们派人去请非利士的众领袖来，说：“请你们把以色列 神的约柜送回原处，免得害死我和我的百姓！”原来 神的手重重攻击那城，死亡的恐惧弥漫全城， 12 没有死的人都受痔疮的折磨。城里的哀声上达于天。
送回约柜
6 耶和华的约柜在非利士人之地七个月。 2 非利士人召了祭司和占卜的来，说：“我们向耶和华的约柜应当怎样做呢？请指示我们要用什么方法把约柜送回原处。” 3 他们说：“若要将以色列 神的约柜送回去，不可空手送回，一定要给他献赔罪的礼物，然后你们才可以得痊愈，并且知道他的手为何不离开你们。” 4 非利士人说：“应当用什么献为赔罪的礼物呢？”他们说：“当按照非利士领袖的数目，献五个金痔疮和五个金老鼠，因为你们众人和领袖所遭遇的都是一样的灾祸。 5 当制造你们痔疮的像和毁坏田地老鼠的像，并要将荣耀归给以色列的 神，或者他向你们和你们的神明，以及你们的田地，把手放轻些。 6 你们为何硬着心，像埃及人和法老硬着心一样呢？ 神岂不是严厉对付埃及，使埃及人释放以色列人，他们就走了吗？ 7 现在你们应当造一辆新车，把两头未曾负轭，还在哺乳的母牛套在车上，赶牛犊离开母牛，回家去。 8 你们要把耶和华的约柜放在车上，把所献赔罪的金器装在匣子里，放在柜旁，送走柜子，让它去。 9 你们要观察：车若直行过以色列的边界，上到伯‧示麦去，这大灾祸就是耶和华降在我们身上的；若不然，我们就知道，这不是他的手击打我们，而是我们偶然遭遇的。”
10 非利士人就照样做了。他们取了两头哺乳的母牛套在车上，把牛犊关在家里， 11 把耶和华的约柜和装金老鼠以及金痔疮像的匣子都放在车上。 12 牛直行大路，在往伯‧示麦的一条大道上，一面走一面叫，不偏左右。非利士的领袖跟在后面，直到伯‧示麦的地界。 13 那时，伯‧示麦人正在平原收割麦子，举目看见约柜，就欢欢喜喜地迎见它。 14 车到了伯‧示麦人约书亚的田间，就在那里停了。在那里有一块大磐石，他们把车的木头劈了，把两头母牛献给耶和华为燔祭。 15 利未人将耶和华的约柜和柜子旁边装金器的匣子拿下来，放在大磐石上。当日伯‧示麦人献上燔祭，又献其他祭物给耶和华。 16 非利士人的五个领袖看见了，当日就回以革伦去。
17 非利士人献给耶和华作赔罪的金痔疮像如下：一个为亚实突，一个为迦萨，一个为亚实基伦，一个为迦特，一个为以革伦。 18 金老鼠的数目是按照非利士五个领袖的城镇，就是坚固的城镇和乡村，以及大磐石。这磐石是安放耶和华约柜的，到今日还在伯‧示麦人约书亚的田间。
约柜在基列‧耶琳
19 耶和华击杀伯‧示麦人，因为他们观看他的约柜。他击杀了百姓七十人[c] [d]。百姓因耶和华大大击杀他们，就哀哭了。 20 伯‧示麦人说：“谁能在耶和华这位圣洁的 神面前侍立呢？这约柜可以从我们这里上到谁那里去呢？” 21 于是他们派使者到基列‧耶琳的居民那里，说：“非利士人将耶和华的约柜送回来了，你们下来将约柜接了，上到你们那里去吧！”
1 Samuel 3-6
King James Version
3 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
4 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: 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 Ichabod, 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.
5 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
6 And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.
10 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
11 And they laid the ark of the Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.
12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.
13 And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord.
15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord.
16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the Lord; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the Lord: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
1 Samuele 3-6
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
La chiamata di Dio a Samuele
3 Il giovane Samuele continuava a servire il Signore sotto la guida di Eli. La parola del Signore era rara in quei giorni, le visioni non erano frequenti. 2 In quel tempo Eli stava riposando in casa, perché i suoi occhi cominciavano a indebolirsi e non riusciva più a vedere. 3 La lampada di Dio non era ancora spenta e Samuele era coricato nel tempio del Signore, dove si trovava l'arca di Dio. 4 Allora il Signore chiamò: «Samuele!» e quegli rispose: «Eccomi», 5 poi corse da Eli e gli disse: «Mi hai chiamato, eccomi!». Egli rispose: «Non ti ho chiamato, torna a dormire!». Tornò e si mise a dormire. 6 Ma il Signore chiamò di nuovo: «Samuele!» e Samuele, alzatosi, corse da Eli dicendo: «Mi hai chiamato, eccomi!». Ma quegli rispose di nuovo: «Non ti ho chiamato, figlio mio, torna a dormire!». 7 In realtà Samuele fino allora non aveva ancora conosciuto il Signore, né gli era stata ancora rivelata la parola del Signore. 8 Il Signore tornò a chiamare: «Samuele!» per la terza volta; questi si alzò ancora e corse da Eli dicendo: «Mi hai chiamato, eccomi!». Allora Eli comprese che il Signore chiamava il giovinetto. 9 Eli disse a Samuele: «Vattene a dormire e, se ti si chiamerà ancora, dirai: Parla, Signore, perché il tuo servo ti ascolta». Samuele andò a coricarsi al suo posto. 10 Venne il Signore, stette di nuovo accanto a lui e lo chiamò ancora come le altre volte: «Samuele, Samuele!». Samuele rispose subito: «Parla, perché il tuo servo ti ascolta». 11 Allora il Signore disse a Samuele: «Ecco io sto per fare in Israele una cosa tale che chiunque udirà ne avrà storditi gli orecchi. 12 In quel giorno attuerò contro Eli quanto ho pronunziato riguardo alla sua casa, da cima a fondo. 13 Gli ho annunziato che io avrei fatto vendetta della casa di lui per sempre, perché sapeva che i suoi figli disonoravano Dio e non li ha puniti. 14 Per questo io giuro contro la casa di Eli: non sarà mai espiata l'iniquità della casa di Eli né con i sacrifici né con le offerte!». 15 Samuele si coricò fino al mattino, poi aprì i battenti della casa del Signore. Samuele però non osava manifestare la visione a Eli. 16 Eli chiamò Samuele e gli disse: «Samuele, figlio mio». Rispose: «Eccomi». 17 Proseguì: «Che discorso ti ha fatto? Non tenermi nascosto nulla. Così Dio agisca con te e anche peggio, se mi nasconderai una sola parola di quanto ti ha detto». 18 Allora Samuele gli svelò tutto e non tenne nascosto nulla. Eli disse: «Egli è il Signore! Faccia ciò che a lui pare bene».
19 Samuele acquistò autorità poiché il Signore era con lui, né lasciò andare a vuoto una sola delle sue parole. 20 Perciò tutto Israele, da Dan fino a Bersabea, seppe che Samuele era stato costituito profeta del Signore. 21 In seguito il Signore si mostrò altre volte a Samuele, dopo che si era rivelato a Samuele in Silo, (4,1a)e la parola di Samuele giunse a tutto Israele come parola del Signore.
2. L'ARCA PRESSO I FILISTEI
Disfatta degli Israeliti e cattura dell'arca
4 La parola di Samuele si rivolse a tutto Israele.
In quei giorni i Filistei si radunarono per combattere contro Israele. Allora Israele scese in campo a dar battaglia ai Filistei. Essi si accamparono presso Eben-Ezer mentre i Filistei s'erano accampati in Afèk. 2 I Filistei si schierarono per attaccare Israele e la battaglia divampò, ma Israele ebbe la peggio di fronte ai Filistei e caddero sul campo, delle loro schiere, circa quattromila uomini.
3 Quando il popolo fu rientrato nell'accampamento, gli anziani d'Israele si chiesero: «Perché ci ha percossi oggi il Signore di fronte ai Filistei? Andiamo a prenderci l'arca del Signore a Silo, perché venga in mezzo a noi e ci liberi dalle mani dei nostri nemici». 4 Il popolo mandò subito a Silo a prelevare l'arca del Dio degli eserciti che siede sui cherubini: c'erano con l'arca di Dio i due figli di Eli, Cofni e Pìncas. 5 Non appena l'arca del Signore giunse all'accampamento, gli Israeliti elevarono un urlo così forte che ne tremò la terra. 6 Anche i Filistei udirono l'eco di quell'urlo e dissero: «Che significa il risuonare di quest'urlo così forte nell'accampamento degli Ebrei?». Poi vennero a sapere che era arrivata nel loro campo l'arca del Signore. 7 I Filistei ne ebbero timore e si dicevano: «E' venuto il loro Dio nel loro campo!», ed esclamavano: «Guai a noi, perché non è stato così né ieri né prima. 8 Guai a noi! Chi ci libererà dalle mani di queste divinità così potenti? Queste divinità hanno colpito con ogni piaga l'Egitto nel deserto. 9 Risvegliate il coraggio e siate uomini, o Filistei, altrimenti sarete schiavi degli Ebrei, come essi sono stati vostri schiavi. Siate uomini dunque e combattete!». 10 Quindi i Filistei attaccarono battaglia, Israele fu sconfitto e ciascuno fu costretto a fuggire nella sua tenda. La strage fu molto grande: dalla parte d'Israele caddero tremila fanti. 11 In più l'arca di Dio fu presa e i due figli di Eli, Cofni e Pìncas, morirono.
Morte di Eli
12 Uno della tribù di Beniamino fuggì dalle file e venne a Silo il giorno stesso, con le vesti stracciate e polvere sul capo. 13 Mentre giungeva, ecco Eli stava sul sedile presso la porta e scrutava la strada di Mizpa, perché aveva il cuore in ansia per l'arca di Dio. Venne dunque l'uomo e diede l'annuncio in città e tutta la città alzò lamenti. 14 Eli, sentendo il rumore delle grida, si chiese: «Che sarà questo grido di tumulto?». Intanto l'uomo si avanzò in gran fretta e narrò a Eli ogni cosa. 15 Eli era vecchio di novantotto anni, aveva gli occhi rigidi e non poteva più vedere. 16 Disse dunque quell'uomo a Eli: «Sono giunto dal campo. Sono fuggito oggi dalle schiere dei combattenti». Eli domandò: «Che è dunque accaduto, figlio mio?». 17 Rispose il messaggero: «Israele è fuggito davanti ai Filistei e nel popolo v'è stata grande strage; inoltre i tuoi due figli Cofni e Pìncas sono morti e l'arca di Dio è stata presa!». 18 Appena ebbe accennato all'arca di Dio, Eli cadde all'indietro dal sedile sul lato della porta, battè la nuca e morì, perché era vecchio e pesante. Egli aveva giudicato Israele per quarant'anni.
Morte della moglie di Pincas
19 La nuora di lui, moglie di Pìncas, incinta e prossima al parto, quando sentì la notizia che era stata presa l'arca di Dio e che erano morti il suocero e il marito, s'accosciò e partorì, colta dalle doglie. 20 Mentre era sul punto di morire, le dicevano quelle che le stavano attorno: «Non temere, hai partorito un figlio». Ma essa non rispose e non ne fece caso. 21 Ma chiamò il bambino Icabod, cioè: «Se n'è andata lungi da Israele la gloria!» riferendosi alla cattura dell'arca di Dio e al suocero e al marito. 22 La donna disse: «Se n'è andata lungi da Israele la gloria», perché era stata presa l'arca di Dio.
Fastidi causati dall'arca
5 I Filistei, catturata l'arca di Dio, la portarono da Eben-Ezer ad Asdod. 2 I Filistei poi presero l'arca di Dio e la introdussero nel tempio di Dagon. 3 Il giorno dopo i cittadini di Asdod si alzarono ed ecco Dagon giaceva con la faccia a terra davanti all'arca del Signore; essi presero Dagon e lo rimisero al suo posto. 4 Si alzarono il giorno dopo di buon mattino ed ecco Dagon con la faccia a terra davanti all'arca del Signore, mentre il capo di Dagon e le palme delle mani giacevano staccate sulla soglia; solo il tronco era rimasto a Dagon. 5 A ricordo di ciò i sacerdoti di Dagon e quanti entrano nel tempio di Dagon in Asdod non calpestano la soglia fino ad oggi. 6 Allora incominciò a pesare la mano del Signore sugli abitanti di Asdod, li devastò e li colpì con bubboni, Asdod e il suo territorio. 7 I cittadini di Asdod, vedendo che le cose si mettevano in tal modo, dissero: «Non rimanga con noi l'arca del Dio d'Israele, perché la sua mano è troppo dura contro Dagon nostro dio!». 8 Allora, fatti radunare presso di loro tutti i principi dei Filistei, dissero: «Che cosa si deve fare dell'arca del Dio d'Israele?». Dissero: «Si porti a Gat l'arca del Dio d'Israele». E portarono a Gat l'arca del Dio d'Israele. 9 Ma ecco, dopo che l'ebbero trasportata, la mano del Signore si fece sentire sulla città con terrore molto grande, colpendo gli abitanti della città dal più piccolo al più grande e provocando loro bubboni. 10 Allora mandarono l'arca di Dio ad Ekron; ma all'arrivo dell'arca di Dio ad Ekron, i cittadini protestarono: «Mi hanno portato qui l'arca del Dio d'Israele, per far morire me e il mio popolo!». 11 Fatti perciò radunare tutti i capi dei Filistei, dissero: «Mandate via l'arca del Dio d'Israele!». Infatti si era diffuso un terrore mortale in tutta la città, perché la mano di Dio era molto pesante. 12 Quelli che non morivano erano colpiti da bubboni e i lamenti della città salivano al cielo.
Rinvio dell'arca
6 Rimase l'arca del Signore nel territorio dei Filistei sette mesi. 2 Poi i Filistei convocarono i sacerdoti e gli indovini e dissero: «Che dobbiamo fare dell'arca del Signore? Indicateci il modo di rimandarla alla sua sede». 3 Risposero: «Se intendete rimandare l'arca del Dio d'Israele, non rimandatela vuota, ma pagate un tributo in ammenda della vostra colpa. Allora guarirete e vi sarà noto perché non si è ritirata da voi la sua mano». 4 Chiesero: «Quale riparazione dobbiamo pagarle?». Risposero: «Secondo il numero dei capi dei Filistei, cinque bubboni d'oro e cinque topi d'oro, perché unico è stato il flagello per tutto il popolo e per i vostri capi. 5 Fate dunque immagini dei vostri bubboni e immagini dei vostri topi che infestano la terra e datele in omaggio al Dio d'Israele, sperando che sia tolto il peso della sua mano da voi, dal vostro dio e dal vostro paese. 6 Perché ostinarvi come si sono ostinati gli Egiziani e il faraone? Dopo essere stati colpiti dai flagelli, non li lasciarono forse andare, cosicché essi partirono? 7 Dunque fate un carro nuovo, poi prendete due vacche allattanti sulle quali non sia mai stato posto il giogo e attaccate queste vacche al carro, togliendo loro i vitelli e riconducendoli alla stalla. 8 Quindi prendete l'arca del Signore, collocatela sul carro e ponete gli oggetti d'oro che dovete pagarle in riparazione in una cesta appesa di fianco. Poi fatela partire e lasciate che se ne vada. 9 E state a vedere: se salirà a Bet-Sèmes per la via che porta al suo territorio, essa ci ha provocato tutti questi mali così grandi; se no, sapremo che non ci ha colpiti la sua mano, ma per puro caso abbiamo avuto questo incidente». 10 Quegli uomini fecero in tal modo. Presero due vacche allattanti, le attaccarono al carro e chiusero nella stalla i loro vitelli. 11 Quindi collocarono l'arca del Signore sul carro con la cesta e i topi d'oro e le immagini dei bubboni. 12 Le vacche andarono diritte per la strada di Bet-Sèmes percorrendo sicure una sola via e muggendo continuamente, ma non piegando né a destra né a sinistra. I capi dei Filistei le seguirono sino al confine con Bet-Sèmes.
L'arca a Bet-Sèmes
13 Gli abitanti di Bet-Sèmes stavano facendo la mietitura del grano nella pianura. Alzando gli occhi, scorsero l'arca ed esultarono a quella vista. 14 Il carro giunse al campo di Giosuè di Bet-Sèmes e si fermò là dove era una grossa pietra. Allora fecero a pezzi i legni del carro e offrirono le vacche in olocausto al Signore. 15 I leviti avevano tolto l'arca del Signore e la cesta che vi era appesa, nella quale stavano gli oggetti d'oro, e l'avevano posta sulla grossa pietra. In quel giorno gli uomini di Bet-Sèmes offrirono olocausti e immolarono vittime al Signore. 16 I cinque capi dei Filistei stettero ad osservare, poi tornarono il giorno stesso ad Ekron. 17 Sono questi i bubboni d'oro che i Filistei pagarono in ammenda al Signore: uno per Asdod, uno per Gaza, uno per Ascalon, uno per Gat, uno per Ekron. 18 Invece i topi d'oro erano pari al numero delle città filistee appartenenti ai cinque capi, dalle fortezze sino ai villaggi di campagna. A testimonianza di tutto ciò rimane oggi nel campo di Giosuè a Bet-Sèmes la grossa pietra, sulla quale avevano deposto l'arca del Signore.
19 Ma il Signore percosse gli uomini di Bet-Sèmes, perché avevano guardato l'arca del Signore; colpì nel popolo settanta persone su cinquantamila e il popolo fu in lutto perché il Signore aveva inflitto alla loro gente questo grave castigo.
L'arca a Kiriat-Iearim
20 Gli uomini di Bet-Sèmes allora esclamarono: «Chi mai potrà stare alla presenza del Signore, questo Dio così santo? La manderemo via da noi; ma da chi?». 21 Perciò inviarono messaggeri agli abitanti di Kiriat-Iearìm con questa ambasciata: «I Filistei hanno ricondotto l'arca del Signore. Scendete e portatela presso di voi».
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.