1 Samuel 4

A battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which the former are defeated, with the loss of four thousand men, 1 Samuel 4:1 , 1 Samuel 4:2 . They resolve to give the Philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the Lord, with Hophni and Phinehas the priests, into the camp, 1 Samuel 4:3 , 1 Samuel 4:4 . They do so, and become vainly confident, 1 Samuel 4:5 . At this the Philistines are dismayed, 1 Samuel 4:6-9 . The battle commences; the Israelites are again defeated, with the loss of thirty thousand men; Hophni and Phinehas are among the slain; and the ark of the Lord is taken, 1 Samuel 4:10 , 1 Samuel 4:11 . A Benjamite runs with the news to Eli; who, hearing of the capture of the ark, falls from his seat, and breaks his neck, 1 Samuel 4:12-18 . The wife of Phinehas, hearing of the death of her husband, and father-in-law, and of the capture of the ark, is taken in untimely travail, beings forth a son, calls him I-chabod, and expires, 1 Samuel 4:19-22 .