1 Samuel 4:12-22
World English Bible
12 A man of Benjamin ran out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does the noise of this tumult mean?”
The man hurried, and came and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see. 16 The man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.”
He said, “How did the matter go, my son?”
17 He who brought the news answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and God’s ark has been captured.”
18 When he made mention of God’s ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
19 His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to giving birth. When she heard the news that God’s ark was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her. 20 About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she didn’t answer, neither did she regard it. 21 She named the child Ichabod,[a] saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because God’s ark was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The glory has departed from Israel; for God’s ark has been taken.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:21 “Ichabod” means “no glory”.
1 Samuel 4:12-22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Eli’s Death and Ichabod’s Birth
12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran(A) from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn,(B) and there was dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road watching,(C) because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli. 15 At that time Eli was 98 years old, and his gaze was fixed[a] because he couldn’t see.(D)
16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle.[b] I fled from there today.”
“What happened, my son?”(E) Eli asked.
17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate,(F) and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel 40 years.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her. 20 As she was dying,[c] the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!”(G) But she did not respond or pay attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod,[d] saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,”(H) referring to the capture of the ark of God(I) and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 4:15 Lit his eyes stood; 1Kg 14:4
- 1 Samuel 4:16 LXX reads camp
- 1 Samuel 4:20 LXX reads And in her time of delivery, she was about to die
- 1 Samuel 4:21 = Where is Glory?
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.