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1 Samuel / Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured
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Hannah's Prayer for a Son Hannah Presents Samuel to the Lord Hannah's Song of Praise Eli's Corrupt Sons and Samuel's Childhood Prophecy of Judgment on Eli's House Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured Eli's Death and the Birth of Ichabod The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities The Ark Returned to Israel Samuel Judges Israel and Delivers Them at Mizpah Israel Demands a King Saul Chosen and Given Signs Saul Proclaimed King by Lot Saul's Victory at Jabesh-Gilead Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal Samuel's Farewell and Exhortation to Israel Saul's Unauthorized Sacrifice and Rebuke Philistine Pressure and Israel's Lack of Arms Jonathan's Bold Assault and Victory Saul's Rash Oath and Its Consequences Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits Saul's Family and Mighty Men Saul's Disobedience and Rejection as King David Anointed by Samuel David Serves Saul and Eases His Torment David and Goliath David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy Saul's Attempts on David's Life and Jonathan's Intervention David and Jonathan's Covenant David at Nob: Bread and Goliath's Sword David Feigns Madness at Gath David Gathers Followers and Seeks Priestly Aid Massacre at Nob and Abiathar Joins David David Delivers Keilah and Inquires of God Saul's Pursuit, Ziphite Betrayal, and David's Escape David Spares Saul in a Cave Nabal's Folly and Abigail's Intervention David Again Spares Saul in His Camp David Seeks Refuge with Achish Saul and the Witch of Endor The Philistines Reject David David Recovers His Family and Defeats the Amalekites The Death of Saul and His Sons

Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured

1 Samuel 4:2-11

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Chapter 4
2 The Philistines drew up to meet Israel. When the battle was joined, Israel was struck down before the Philistines, and they struck down about four thousand men of the battle array in the field. 3 The people came to the camp, and the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD struck us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from him the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and let it come into our midst and save us from the hand of our enemies." 4 The people sent to Shiloh, and they took up from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits on the cherubim. And there were two sons of Eli with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas. 5 And it was when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the camp that all Israel shouted a great shout, and the earth resounded. 6 The Philistines heard the sound of the shout and said, "What is the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?" And they knew that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp. 7 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before, either yesterday or the day before!" 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these majestic gods? They are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague in the wilderness. 9 Be strong and be men, O Philistines, so that you do not serve the Hebrews as they served you. Be men and fight. 10 The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck down, and they fled, each to his tent. And the blow was very great, and thirty thousand foot soldiers fell from Israel. 11 And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli died—Hophni and Phinehas.