1And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.
The Philistines capture the ark
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2The 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. 3When 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 he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.’
4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6Hearing 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, 7the Philistines were afraid. ‘A god has4:7 Or ‘Gods have (see Septuagint) come into the camp,’ they said. ‘Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8We’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. 9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!’
10So 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. 11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
Death of Eli
12That same day a Benjaminite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13When 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.
14Eli heard the outcry and asked, ‘What is the meaning of this uproar?’
The man hurried over to Eli, 15who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. 16He told Eli, ‘I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.’
Eli asked, ‘What happened, my son?’
17The 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.’
18When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backwards 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 led4:18 Traditionally judged Israel for forty years.
19His 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. 20As 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.
21She named the boy Ichabod,4:21 Ichabod means no glory. 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. 22She said, ‘The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.’
Abafirisuuti Bawamba Essanduuko ya Katonda
14:1 a 1Sa 7:12 b Yos 12:18; 1Sa 29:1Awo ekigambo kya Samwiri ne kibuna Isirayiri yenna.
Mu biro ebyo Abayisirayiri ne balumba Abafirisuuti, Abayisirayiri ne basiisira okumpi ne Ebenezeri, ate nga Abafirisuuti bo basiisidde mu Afeki. 2Abafirisuuti ne basimba ennyiriri okulumba Abayisirayiri ne bayungula eggye lyabwe okulumba; olutalo bwe lwanyiinyiitira, Abayisirayiri ne bawangulibwa, era enkumi nnya ku bo ne battibwa. 34:3 a Yos 7:7 b Kbl 10:35; Yos 6:7Abalwanyi bwe baddayo mu nkambi, abakadde ba Isirayiri ne beebuuzaganya nti, “Lwaki Mukama alese Abafirisuuti okutuwangula leero? Tuleete essanduuko ya Mukama ey’endagaano okuva e Siiro, tugende nayo etuwonye amaanyi g’abalabe baffe.”
44:4 Kuv 25:22; 2Sa 6:2Awo abantu ne batuma abasajja e Siiro, ne baggyayo essanduuko ey’endagaano ya Mukama Ayinzabyonna, atudde ku ntebe ye ey’obwakabaka wakati mu bakerubi. Batabani ba Eri bombi, Kofuni ne Finekaasi nabo ne bagenda n’essanduuko ya Katonda ey’endagaano.
54:5 Yos 6:5, 10Essanduuko ya Mukama ey’endagaano bwe yatuuka mu nkambi ey’Abayisirayiri, bonna ne baleekaanira waggulu mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka, n’ettaka ne liyuuguuma. 6Awo Abafirisuuti bwe baawulira oluyoogaano ne beebuuza nti, “Oluyoogaano olwo lwonna mu nkambi ey’Abaebbulaniya lutegeeza ki?”
Bwe baategeera nti essanduuko ya Mukama ereeteddwa mu nkambi, 74:7 Kuv 15:14Abafirisuuti ne batya. Ne boogera nti, “Lubaale azze mu nkambi. Tufudde! Tewabangawo kigambo ekifaanana bwe kityo. 8Zitusanze! Ani ayinza okutuwonya balubaale4:8 Abafirisuuti bakkiririzanga mu bakatonda bangi. bano ab’amaanyi? Bano be balubaale abaabonyaabonya Abamisiri n’endwadde n’ebibonoobono ebya buli ngeri mu ddungu. 94:9 Bal 13:1; 1Ko 16:13Abafirisuuti, mugume omwoyo, mube basajja. Bwe kitaabe bwe kityo munaaba baddu b’Abaebbulaniya nga bo bwe babadde abaweereza bammwe. Mube basajja mulwane.”
104:10 nny 2; Ma 28:25; 2Sa 18:17; 2Bk 14:12Abafirisuuti ne beerwanako ne bawangula Abayisirayiri. Buli Muyisirayiri n’addukira mu nsiisira ye. Ne waba okuttibwa kunene nnyo, Abayisirayiri ne bafiirwa abaserikale abaatambuzanga ebigere emitwalo esatu. 114:11 1Sa 2:34; Zab 78:61, 64Essanduuko ya Katonda n’ewambibwa, era ne batabani ba Eri bombi, Kofuni ne Finekaasi ne battibwa.
Okufa Kwa Eri
124:12 Yos 7:6; 2Sa 1:2; 15:32; Nek 9:1; Yob 2:12Olunaku lwe lumu ne wabaawo omusajja Omubenyamini eyava mu lutalo n’adduka okutuuka e Siiro, ng’ayuzizza engoye ze n’omutwe gwe nga gujjudde enfuufu. 134:13 nny 18; 1Sa 1:9Bwe yatuuka, Eri yali atudde mu ntebe ye ku mabbali g’ekkubo ng’atunula, nga yeeraliikiridde olw’essanduuko ya Katonda. Omusajja bwe yatuuka mu kibuga n’asaasaanya amawulire ku ebyo ebibaddewo, ekibuga kyonna ne kikuba ebiwoobe.
14Eri bwe yawulira oluyoogaano n’abuuza nti, “Oluyoogaano luno luva ku ki?”
Omusajja n’ayanguwa n’atuuka awaali Eri n’amutegeeza. 154:15 1Sa 3:2Eri yali aweza emyaka egy’obukulu kyenda mu munaana, amaaso ge nga gayimbadde, era nga n’okulaba takyalaba. 16Omusajja oyo n’ategeeza Eri nti, “Naakava mu lutalo, era nziruseeyo leero.”
Eri n’amubuuza nti, “Bigenze bitya mwana wange?” 17Omusajja eyaleeta amawulire n’amuddamu nti, “Isirayiri edduse Abafirisuuti, era eggye lyaffe lifiiriddwa abalwanyi bangi. Ate ne batabani bo bombi Kofuni ne Finekaasi battiddwa, era n’essanduuko ya Katonda ewambiddwa.”
184:18 nny 13Olwayogera ku ssanduuko ya Katonda, Eri n’asirituka okuva ku ntebe ye n’agwa okumpi n’omulyango. Ensingo ye n’emenyeka n’afiirawo kubanga yali musajja mukadde nnyo ate nga n’obuzito muzito. Yali akulembedde Isirayiri okumala emyaka amakumi ana.
19Mu kiseera ekyo muka mwana we, Finekaasi, yali lubuto era ng’anaatera okuzaala. Bwe yawulira amawulire nti Essanduuko ya Katonda ewambiddwa era nti ne ssezaala we ne bba bafudde, n’alumwa era n’azaalirawo, kubanga obulumi bwamuyitirirako. 20Omukazi oyo bwe yali ng’anaatera okufa, abamuzaalisa ne bamugamba nga boogera nti, “Totya, kubanga ozadde mulenzi.” Naye n’atabaanukula wadde okubassaako omwoyo.
214:21 a Lub 35:18 b Zab 26:8; Yer 2:11N’atuuma omwana erinnya Ikabodi, amakulu gaalyo nti, “Ekitiibwa kivudde ku Isirayiri,” kubanga essanduuko ya Katonda yali ewambiddwa ate nga ssezaala we ne bba bafudde. 22N’ayogera nti, “Ekitiibwa kivudde ku Isirayiri kubanga essanduuko ya Katonda ewambiddwa.”
