The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Samuel 4

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

1 Samuel chapter 4 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer; and the Philistines pitched…” — the complete text of all 22 verses is below, free to read online.

1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer; and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel; and when the battle was spread, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said: 'Wherefore hath HaShem smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of HaShem out of Shiloh unto us, that He may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.'

4So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of HaShem of hosts, who sitteth upon the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of G-d.

5And when the ark of the covenant of HaShem came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang.

6And 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 knew that the ark of HaShem was come into the camp.

7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said: 'G-d is come into the camp.' And they said: 'Woe unto us! for there was not such a thing yesterday and the day before.

8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues and in the wilderness.

9Be 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.'

10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11And the ark of G-d was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12And 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.

13And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of G-d. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said: 'What meaneth the noise of this tumult?' And the man made haste, and came and told Eli.

15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, that he could not see.

16And 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: 'How went the matter, my son?'

17And he that brought the tidings 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 G-d is taken.'

18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of G-d, that he 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. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered; and when she heard the tidings that the ark of G-d was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came suddenly upon her.

20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her: 'Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son.' But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

21And she named the child Ichabod, saying: 'The glory is departed from Israel'; because the ark of G-d was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

22And she said: 'The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of G-d is taken.'

22 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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