1 Samuel

Chapter 4

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֥y debar-shshemu'e֖l lekal-yishsera'e֑l vayּetze֣ yishsera'el֩ liqera֨'t pּelishshetּi֜ym lamּilechama֗h vaֽyּachanu֙ 'al-ha'e֣ben ha'e֔zer upelishshetּi֖ym chan֥u ba'apeֽq׃

Edified Edition (EDE)And Samuel’s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּצֵ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ לִקְרַ֨את פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ עַל־הָאֶ֣בֶן הָעֵ֔זֶר וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים חָנ֥וּ בַאֲפֵֽק׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa'arek֨u pelishshetּi֜ym liqera֣'t yishsera'e֗l vatּitּoshsh֙ hamּilechama֔h vayּinּa֥gep yishsera'e֖l lipene֣y pelishshetּi֑ym vayּakּ֤u bamּaֽ'arakah֙ bּashsּade֔h kּe'arebּa֥'at 'alapi֖ym 'iֽyshsh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּכּ֤וּ בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabo֣ ha'am֮ 'el-haֽmּachaneh֒ vayּoֽ'meru֙ ziqene֣y yishsera'e֔l la֣mּah negapa֧nu yehva֛h hayּ֖om lipene֣y pelishshetּi֑ym niqecha֧h 'ele֣ynu mishshּilo֗h 'et-'aron֙ bּeri֣yt yehva֔h veyabo֣ beqirebּe֔nu veyoshshi'e֖nu mikּa֥p 'oyebeֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

וַיָּבֹ֣א הָעָם֮ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֣מָּה נְגָפָ֧נוּ יְהוָ֛ה הַיּ֖וֹם לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים נִקְחָ֧ה אֵלֵ֣ינוּ מִשִּׁלֹ֗ה אֶת־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וְיָבֹ֣א בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ וְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshela֤ch ha'am֙ shshilo֔h vayּishse'֣u mishshּa֗m 'e֣t 'ar֧on bּeriyt-yehva֛h tzeba'֖ot yoshshe֣b hakּerubi֑ym veshsha֞m shshene֣y beneֽy-'eli֗y 'im-'aron֙ bּeri֣yt ha'elohi֔ym chapeni֖y upiֽynechaֽs׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הָעָם֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִ֗י עִם־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֗y kּeb֨o 'ar֤on bּeriyt-yehvah֙ 'el-haֽmּachane֔h vayּari֥'u kal-yishsera'e֖l tּeru'a֣h gedola֑h vatּeho֖m ha'aֽretz׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the ark of the LORD’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

וַיְהִ֗י כְּב֨וֹא אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיָּרִ֥עוּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַתֵּהֹ֖ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishsheme'֤u pelishshetּiym֙ 'et-q֣ol hatּeru'a֔h vayּo֣'mer֔u me֠h q֣ol hatּeru'a֧h hagּedola֛h hazּo֖'t bּemachane֣h ha'iberi֑ym vayּe֣de'֔u kּi֚y 'ar֣on yehva֔h bּa֖ 'el-haֽmּachaneֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,

וַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַתְּרוּעָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֶ֠ה ק֣וֹל הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה הָעִבְרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֚י אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה בָּ֖א אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiֽre'u֙ hapּelishshetּi֔ym kּi֣y 'amer֔u bּa֥ 'elohi֖ym 'el-haֽmּachane֑h vayּo'meru֙ '֣oy la֔nu kּi֣y lo֥ hayeta֛h kּazo֖'t 'etem֥ol shshileshshoֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.

וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ בָּ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ כִּ֣י לֹ֥א הָיְתָ֛ה כָּזֹ֖את אֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ֣oy la֔nu mi֣y yatzּiyle֔nu miyּa֛d ha'elohi֥ym ha'adּiyri֖ym ha'e֑lּeh 'e֧lּeh he֣m ha'elohi֗ym hamּakּi֧ym 'et-mitzera֛yim bּekal-makּa֖h bּamּidebּaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ מִ֣י יַצִּילֵ֔נוּ מִיַּ֛ד הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים הָאַדִּירִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה אֵ֧לֶּה הֵ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַמַּכִּ֧ים אֶת־מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּכָל־מַכָּ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hiֽtechazּeq֞u viֽhey֤u lֽa'anashshiym֙ pּelishshetּi֔ym pּe֚n tּa'abed֣u la'iberi֔ym kּa'ashshe֥r 'abed֖u lake֑m viheyiyte֥m la'anashshi֖ym venilechametּeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"

הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ וִֽהְי֤וּ לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ לָעִבְרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבְד֖וּ לָכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּilּacham֣u pelishshetּi֗ym vayּinּa֤gep yishsera'el֙ vayּanu֨su֙ 'i֣yshsh le'ohala֔yv vatּehi֥y hamּakּa֖h gּedola֣h me'o֑d vayּipּol֙ miyּishsera'e֔l shsheloshshi֥ym 'e֖lep rageliֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.

וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיָּנֻ֨סוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֔יו וַתְּהִ֥י הַמַּכָּ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּפֹּל֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף רַגְלִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ar֥on 'elohi֖ym nileqa֑ch ushshene֤y beneֽy-'eliy֙ me֔tu chapeni֖y upiֽynechaֽs׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

וַאֲר֥וֹן אֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָ֑ח וּשְׁנֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִי֙ מֵ֔תוּ חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֤ratz 'iyshsh-bּineyamin֙ mehamּa֣'araka֔h vayּabo֥ shshilo֖h bּayּ֣om hah֑u umadּa֣yv qeru'i֔ym va'adama֖h 'al-ro'shshֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle-line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.

וַיָּ֤רָץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן֙ מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שִׁלֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וּמַדָּ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּab֗o vehinּe֣h 'e֠liy yoshshe֨b 'aֽl-hakּisּe֜ yk ya֥d dּe֨reke֙ metzapּe֔h kּiֽy-haya֤h libּo֙ chare֔d 'a֖l 'ar֣on ha'elohi֑ym veha'i֗yshsh bּa֚ lehagּi֣yd bּa'i֔yr vatּize'a֖q kּal-ha'iֽyr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When he arrived, there was Eli 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.

וַיָּב֗וֹא וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵ֠לִי יֹשֵׁ֨ב עַֽל־הַכִּסֵּ֜א יך יַ֥ד דֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ מְצַפֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה לִבּוֹ֙ חָרֵ֔ד עַ֖ל אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְהָאִ֗ישׁ בָּ֚א לְהַגִּ֣יד בָּעִ֔יר וַתִּזְעַ֖ק כָּל־הָעִֽיר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֤ 'eliy֙ 'et-q֣ol hatzּe'aqa֔h vayּo֕'mer me֛h q֥ol heham֖on hazּe֑h veha'i֣yshsh miha֔r vayּabo֖ vayּagּe֥d le'eliֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli,

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע עֵלִי֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַצְּעָקָ֔ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֶ֛ה ק֥וֹל הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה וְהָאִ֣ישׁ מִהַ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֖א וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לְעֵלִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'eli֕y bּen-tּishshe'i֥ym ushshemone֖h shshana֑h ve'eyna֣yv qa֔mah velo֥ yak֖ol lire'ֽot׃

Edified Edition (EDE)who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see.

וְעֵלִ֕י בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וְעֵינָ֣יו קָ֔מָה וְלֹ֥א יָכ֖וֹל לִרְאֽוֹת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer ha'i֜yshsh 'el-'eli֗y 'aֽnokiy֙ habּa֣ min-hamּa'araka֔h va'ani֕y min-hamּa'araka֖h na֣setּiy hayּ֑om vayּo֛'mer meֽh-haya֥h hadּaba֖r bּeniֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle-line; I fled from it this very day." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?"

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֜ישׁ אֶל־עֵלִ֗י אָֽנֹכִי֙ הַבָּ֣א מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֕י מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָ֖ה נַ֣סְתִּי הַיּ֑וֹם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֶֽה־הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּנִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֨'an haֽmebashsּe֜r vayּo֗'mer na֤s yishsera'el֙ lipene֣y pelishshetּi֔ym vega֛m magּepa֥h gedola֖h hayeta֣h ba'a֑m vegam-shshene֨y bane֜yka me֗tu chapeniy֙ upi֣ynecha֔s va'ar֥on ha'elohi֖ym nileqaֽchah׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)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, and the ark of God has been captured."

וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֞y kּehazekּiyr֣o ׀ 'et-'ar֣on ha'elohi֗ym vayּipּo֣l meֽ'al-ha֠kּisּe 'acho֨ranּi֜yt bּe'a֣d ׀ ya֣d hashshּa֗'ar vatּishshּabe֤r maperaqetּo֙ vayּamo֔t kּiֽy-zaqe֥n ha'i֖yshsh vekabe֑d veh֛u shshapa֥t 'et-yishsera'e֖l 'arebּa'i֥ym shshanaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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 Israel forty years.

וַיְהִ֞י כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ ׀ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיִּפֹּ֣ל מֵֽעַל־הַ֠כִּסֵּא אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית בְּעַ֣ד ׀ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֗עַר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת כִּֽי־זָקֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ וְכָבֵ֑ד וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekalּat֣o 'eֽshshet-pּiynechas֮ hara֣h lalat֒ vatּishshema֣ 'et-hashshּemu'a֔h 'el-hilּaqach֙ 'ar֣on ha'elohi֔ym ume֥t chami֖yha ve'iyshsha֑hּ vatּikera֣ vatּe֔led kּiֽy-nehepek֥u 'ale֖yha tzireֽyha׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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 labour and gave birth, but was overcome by her labour pains.

וְכַלָּת֣וֹ אֵֽשֶׁת־פִּינְחָס֮ הָרָ֣ה לָלַת֒ וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־הַשְּׁמֻעָ֔ה אֶל־הִלָּקַח֙ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּמֵ֥ת חָמִ֖יהָ וְאִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּכְרַ֣ע וַתֵּ֔לֶד כִּֽי־נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ צִרֶֽיהָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): uke'e֣t muta֗hּ vatּedabּe֨renah֙ hanּitzּab֣ot 'ale֔yha 'al-tּiֽyre'i֖y kּi֣y be֣n yala֑detּe velo֥ 'aneta֖h velo'-shsha֥tah libּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

וּכְעֵ֣ת מוּתָ֗הּ וַתְּדַבֵּ֨רְנָה֙ הַנִּצָּב֣וֹת עָלֶ֔יהָ אַל־תִּֽירְאִ֖י כִּ֣י בֵ֣ן יָלָ֑דְתְּ וְלֹ֥א עָנְתָ֖ה וְלֹא־שָׁ֥תָה לִבָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּiqera֣ lanּa֗'ar 'iֽy-kabod֙ le'mo֔r gּala֥h kab֖od miyּishsera'e֑l 'el-hilּaqach֙ 'ar֣on ha'elohi֔ym ve'el-chami֖yha ve'iyshshaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The Glory has departed from Israel", because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.

וַתִּקְרָ֣א לַנַּ֗עַר אִֽי־כָבוֹד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר גָּלָ֥ה כָב֖וֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֶל־הִלָּקַח֙ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאֶל־חָמִ֖יהָ וְאִישָֽׁהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֕'mer gּala֥h kab֖od miyּishsera'e֑l kּi֥y nileqa֖ch 'ar֥on ha'elohiֽym׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)She said, "The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." National calamity was deeply personal.

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר גָּלָ֥ה כָב֖וֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י נִלְקַ֖ח אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃פ