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Liber I Samuelis, 4

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

1. Et factum est in diebus illis, convenerunt Philisthim in pu gnam; et egressus est Israel obviam Philisthim in proelium et castrametatus est iuxta Abenezer. Porro Philisthim venerunt in Aphec

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

2. et instruxerunt aciem contra Israel. Crescente autem certamine, terga vertit Israel Philisthaeis; et caesi sunt in illo certamine passim per agros quasi quattuor milia virorum.

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

3. Et reversus est populus ad castra, dixeruntque maiores natu de Israel: “Quare percussit nos Dominus hodie coram Philisthim? Afferamus ad nos de Silo arcam foederis Domini, et veniat in medium nostri, ut salvet nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum”.

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

4. Misit ergo populus in Silo, et tulerunt inde arcam foederis Domini exercituum sedentis super cherubim; erantque duo filii Heli cum arca foederis Dei, Ophni et Phinees.

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

5. Cumque venisset arca foederis Domini in castra, vociferatus est omnis Israel clamore grandi, et personuit terra.

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

6. Et audierunt Philisthim vocem clamoris dixeruntque: “Quaenam est haec vox clamoris magni in castris Hebraeorum?”. Et cognoverunt quod arca Domini venisset in castra.

7. timueruntque Philisthim dicentes venit Deus in castra et ingemuerunt

7. Timueruntque Philisthim dicentes: “Venit Deus in castra!”. Et ingemuerunt dicentes:

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

8. “Vae nobis! Non enim fuit tanta exsultatio heri et nudiustertius. Vae nobis! Quis nos servabit de manu deorum sublimium istorum? Hi sunt dii, qui percusserunt Aegyptum omni plaga in deserto.

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

9. Confortamini et estote viri, Philisthim, ne serviatis Hebraeis, sicut illi servierunt vobis. Estote viri et bellate!”.

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

10. Pugnaverunt ergo Philisthim, et caesus est Israel, et fugit unusquisque in tabernaculum suum; et facta est plaga magna nimis, et ceciderunt de Israel triginta milia peditum.

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

11. Et arca Dei capta est; duoque filii Heli mortui sunt, Ophni et Phinees.

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

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

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

13. Cumque ille venisset, Heli sedebat super sellam iuxta portam aspectans viam; erat enim cor eius pavens pro arca Dei. Vir autem ille, postquam ingressus est, nuntiavit urbi; et ululavit omnis civitas.

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

14. Et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris dixitque: “Quis est hic sonitus tumultus huius?”. At ille festinavit et venit et nuntiavit Heli.

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

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

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

16. Et dixit ad Heli: “Ego sum qui veni de proelio et ego qui de acie fugi hodie”. Cui ille ait: “Quid actum est, fili mi?”.

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

17. Respondens autem, qui nuntiabat: “Fugit, inquit, Israel coram Philisthim, et ruina magna facta est in populo; insuper et duo filii tui mortui sunt, Ophni et Phinees, et arca Dei capta est”.

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

18. Cumque ille nominasset arcam Dei, cecidit de sella retrorsum iuxta ostium et, fractis cervicibus, mortuus est; senex enim erat vir et gravis. Et ipse iudicavit Israel quadraginta annis.

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

19. Nurus autem eius, uxor Phinees, praegnans erat vicinaque partui. Et, audito nuntio quod capta esset arca Dei et mortuus socer suus et vir suus, incurvavit se et peperit; irruerant enim in eam dolores subiti.

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

20. In ipso autem momento mortis eius dixerunt ei, quae stabant circa eam: “Ne timeas, quia filium peperisti”. Quae non respondit eis neque animadvertit.

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

21. Et vocavit puerum Ichabod dicens: “Translata est gloria de Israel!”, quia capta est arca Dei et pro socero suo et pro viro suo.

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

22. Et ait: “Translata est gloria ab Israel, eo quod capta est 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 Liber I Samuelis, 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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