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I Samuel, 4

1. kai egenhqh en taiV hmeraiV ekeinaiV kai sunaqroizontai allofuloi eiV polemon epi israhl kai exhlqen israhl eiV apanthsin autoiV eiV polemon kai paremballousin epi abenezer kai oi allofuloi paremballousin en afek

1. egressus est namque Israël obviam Philisthim in prœlium et castrametatus est juxta lapidem Adiutorii porro Philisthim venerunt in Afec

2. kai paratassontai oi allofuloi eiV polemon epi israhl kai eklinen o polemoV kai eptaisen anhr israhl enwpion allofulwn kai eplhghsan en th parataxei en agrw tessareV ciliadeV andrwn

2. et instruxerunt aciem contra Israël inito autem certamine terga vertit Israël Philistheis et cæsa sunt in illo certamine passim per agros quasi quattuor milia virorum

3. kai hlqen o laoV eiV thn parembolhn kai eipan oi presbuteroi israhl kata ti eptaisen hmaV kurioV shmeron enwpion allofulwn labwmen thn kibwton tou qeou hmwn ek shlwm kai exelqetw en mesw hmwn kai swsei hmaV ek ceiroV ecqrwn hmwn

3. et reversus est populus ad castra dixeruntque majores natu de Israël quare percussit nos Dominus hodie coram Philisthim adferamus ad nos de Silo arcam fœderis Domini et veniat in medium nostri ut salvet nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum

4. kai apesteilen o laoV eiV shlwm kai airousin ekeiqen thn kibwton kuriou kaqhmenou ceroubim kai amfoteroi oi uioi hli meta thV kibwtou ofni kai fineeV

4. misit ergo populus in Silo et tulerunt inde arcam fœderis Domini exercituum sedentis super cherubin erantque duo filii Heli cum arca fœderis Domini Ofni et Finees

5. kai egenhqh wV hlqen kibwtoV kuriou eiV thn parembolhn kai anekraxen paV israhl fwnh megalh kai hchsen h gh

5. cumque venisset arca fœderis Domini in castra vociferatus est omnis Israël clamore grandi et personuit terra

6. kai hkousan oi allofuloi thV kraughV kai eipon oi allofuloi tiV h kraugh h megalh auth en parembolh twn ebraiwn kai egnwsan oti kibwtoV kuriou hkei eiV thn parembolhn

6. et audierunt Philisthim vocem clamoris dixeruntque quænam hæc est vox clamoris magni in castris Hebræorum et cognoverunt quod arca Domini venisset in castra

7. kai efobhqhsan oi allofuloi kai eipon outoi oi qeoi hkasin proV autouV eiV thn parembolhn ouai hmin exelou hmaV kurie shmeron oti ou gegonen toiauth ecqeV kai trithn

7. timueruntque Philisthim dicentes venit Deus in castra et ingemuerunt

8. ouai hmin tiV exeleitai hmaV ek ceiroV twn qewn twn sterewn toutwn outoi oi qeoi oi pataxanteV thn aigupton en pash plhgh kai en th erhmw

8. væ nobis non enim fuit tanta exultatio heri et nudius tertius væ nobis quis nos servabit de manu deorum sublimium istorum hii sunt dii qui percusserunt Ægyptum omni plaga in deserto

9. krataiousqe kai ginesqe eiV andraV allofuloi mhpote douleushte toiV ebraioiV kaqwV edouleusan hmin kai esesqe eiV andraV kai polemhsate autouV

9. confortamini et estote viri Philisthim ne serviatis Hebræis sicut illi servierunt vobis confortamini et bellate

10. kai epolemhsan autouV kai ptaiei anhr israhl kai efugen ekastoV eiV skhnwma autou kai egeneto plhgh megalh sfodra kai epesan ex israhl triakonta ciliadeV tagmatwn

10. pugnaverunt ergo Philisthim et cæsus est Israël et fugit unusquisque in tabernaculum suum et facta est plaga magna nimis et ceciderunt de Israël triginta milia peditum

11. kai kibwtoV qeou elhmfqh kai amfoteroi uioi hli apeqanon ofni kai fineeV

11. et arca Dei capta est duoque filii Heli mortui sunt Ofni et Finees

12. kai edramen anhr ieminaioV ek thV parataxewV kai hlqen eiV shlwm en th hmera ekeinh kai ta imatia autou dierrhgota kai gh epi thV kefalhV autou

12. currens autem vir de Beniamin ex acie venit in Silo in die illo scissa veste et conspersus pulvere caput

13. kai hlqen kai idou hli ekaqhto epi tou difrou para thn pulhn skopeuwn thn odon oti hn h kardia autou exesthkuia peri thV kibwtou tou qeou kai o anqrwpoV eishlqen eiV thn polin apaggeilai kai anebohsen h poliV

13. cumque ille venisset Heli sedebat super sellam contra viam aspectans erat enim cor ejus pavens pro arca Domini vir autem ille postquam ingressus est nuntiavit urbi et ululavit omnis civitas

14. kai hkousen hli thn fwnhn thV bohV kai eipen tiV h boh thV fwnhV tauthV kai o anqrwpoV speusaV eishlqen kai aphggeilen tw hli

14. et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris dixitque quis est hic sonitus tumultus hujus at ille festinavit et venit et adnuntiavit Heli

15. kai hli uioV enenhkonta etwn kai oi ofqalmoi autou epanesthsan kai ouk eblepen kai eipen hli toiV andrasin toiV periesthkosin autw tiV h fwnh tou hcouV toutou

15. Heli autem erat nonaginta et octo annorum et oculi ejus caligaverant et videre non poterat

16. kai o anhr speusaV proshlqen proV hli kai eipen autw egw eimi o hkwn ek thV parembolhV kagw pefeuga ek thV parataxewV shmeron kai eipen ti to gegonoV rhma teknon

16. et dixit ad Heli ego sum qui veni de prœlio et ego qui de acie fugi hodie cui ille ait quid actum est fili mi

17. kai apekriqh to paidarion kai eipen pefeugen anhr israhl ek proswpou allofulwn kai egeneto plhgh megalh en tw law kai amfoteroi oi uioi sou teqnhkasin kai h kibwtoV tou qeou elhmfqh

17. respondens autem qui nuntiabat fugit inquit Israël coram Philisthim et ruina magna facta est in populo insuper et duo filii tui mortui sunt Ofni et Finees et arca Dei capta est

18. kai egeneto wV emnhsqh thV kibwtou tou qeou kai epesen apo tou difrou opisqiwV ecomenoV thV pulhV kai sunetribh o nwtoV autou kai apeqanen oti presbuthV o anqrwpoV kai baruV kai autoV ekrinen ton israhl eikosi eth

18. cumque ille nominasset arcam Dei cecidit de sella retrorsum juxta ostium et fractis cervicibus mortuus est senex enim erat vir et grandevus et ipse judicavit Israël quadraginta annis

19. kai numfh autou gunh fineeV suneilhfuia tou tekein kai hkousen thn aggelian oti elhmfqh h kibwtoV tou qeou kai oti teqnhken o penqeroV authV kai o anhr authV kai wklasen kai eteken oti epestrafhsan ep' authn wdineV authV

19. nurus autem ejus uxor Finees prægnans erat vicinaque partui et audito nuntio quod capta esset arca Dei et mortuus socer suus et vir suus incurvavit se et peperit inruerant enim in eam dolores subiti

20. kai en tw kairw authV apoqnhskei kai eipon auth ai gunaikeV ai paresthkuiai auth mh fobou oti uion tetokaV kai ouk apekriqh kai ouk enohsen h kardia authV

20. in ipso autem momento mortis ejus dixerunt ei quæ stabant circa eam ne timeas quia filium peperisti quæ non respondit eis neque animadvertit

21. kai ekalesen to paidarion ouai barcabwq uper thV kibwtou tou qeou kai uper tou penqerou authV kai uper tou androV authV

21. et vocavit puerum Hicabod dicens translata est gloria de Israël quia capta est arca Dei et pro socero suo et pro viro suo

22. kai eipan apwkistai doxa israhl en tw lhmfqhnai thn kibwton kuriou

22. et ait translata est gloria ab Israël eo quod capta esset arca Dei



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Footnotes:

4:1-2 - Israel enters battle against the Philistines and suffers a devastating defeat. The initial defeat reflects the spiritual state of the nation, which was far from God and trusted more in itself than in the Lord (see also Psalm 44:9-10 and Deuteronomy 28:25).

4:3-5 - The Israelites bring the Ark of the Covenant to the battlefield, thinking it would guarantee victory. The Ark was a symbol of God's presence, but the people treated it superstitiously, without true reverence (see also Numbers 10:33-35 and Jeremiah 7:8-12).

4:10-11 - Israel suffers a second defeat, and the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas die on the battlefield, fulfilling the prophetic judgment on the house of Eli. This defeat symbolizes Israel's loss of glory due to sin (see also Psalm 78:60-61 and 1 Samuel 2:34).

4:12-18 - Eli, upon learning of the capture of the Ark and the death of his sons, falls backward and dies. His death represents the end of his lineage and the fulfillment of God's word to his house, as well as a sad reflection of Eli's failed leadership (see also 1 Samuel 3:13 and 1 Kings 2:27).

4:19-22 - Eli's daughter-in-law, upon giving birth, names her son Ichabod, which means "The glory has departed from Israel," reflecting the tragedy of the loss of the Ark and the spiritual state of the nation. The capture of the Ark symbolizes the absence of God's presence among Israel (see also Ezekiel 10:18-19 and Psalm 106:20).

Verses related to I Samuel, 4:

1 Samuel chapter 4 narrates the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. What lessons does Israel learn about trusting symbols rather than God? This dramatic text describes the defeat of Israel by the Philistines, the death of Eli's sons, and the loss of the Ark. The chapter addresses topics such as the consequences of sin, the danger of superficial religiosity and divine judgment. 1 Samuel 4 also marks the end of an era in Israel's history. Investigate with us five biblical passages that relate to the powerful themes of this crucial chapter.

Psalms 78:60-61: "He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had established among men. He handed over the symbol of his power to captivity, his glory, into the hands of the adversary." - This psalm directly references the events of 1 Samuel 4, when the ark was captured by the Philistines.

Jeremiah 7:12-14: "Go now to the sanctuary of Shiloh, where I first made my name dwell, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. [...] I will do to this temple that bears my name, in which you trust, and to this place that I gave to you and to your ancestors, the same as I did to Shiloh.'" - Jeremiah uses the events of 1 Samuel 4 as a warning, remembering how God allowed the sanctuary at Shiloh to be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 10:11: "These things happened to them as examples and were written as a warning to us upon whom the end of the age has come." - Israel's defeat in 1 Samuel 4 serves as an example and warning, as Paul suggests in this verse.

Proverbs 16:18: "Pride comes before destruction; the haughty spirit, before the fall." - This proverb reflects Israel's attitude in 1 Samuel 4, superstitiously trusting in the ark rather than in God.

Hebrews 9:4: "This tabernacle had a golden altar for incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered in gold. In this ark were the golden vessel containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant." - This verse describes the ark of the covenant, the capture of which is the central event in 1 Samuel 4.

FAQ:

What happened in the battle between Israel and the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4?

The Philistines defeated Israel, killing 30,000 soldiers and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, also died in the battle. (1 Samuel 4:10-11)

What was Eli's reaction to the news of the capture of the Ark?

Upon hearing of the capture of the Ark, Eli fell from his seat, broke his neck, and died. He had been judge of Israel for 40 years. (1 Samuel 4:17-18)

What did the birth of Phinehas' son mean?

Phinehas' wife gave birth to a son and named him Ichabod, meaning "the glory has departed from Israel," because of the capture of the Ark. (1 Samuel 4:21-22)

Why was the capture of the Ark of the Covenant so significant?

The capture of the Ark by the Philistines represented a great spiritual and military defeat for Israel, since the Ark symbolized God's presence. (1 Samuel 4:11)

How did the Israelites lose the Ark of the Covenant?

The Israelites lost the Ark because they took it to the battlefield believing it would guarantee victory, but they were defeated by the Philistines. (1 Samuel 4:3-11)


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