1 A palavra de Samuel foi dirigida a todo o Israel. Israel saiu ao encontro dos filisteus para combatê-los. Acamparam junto de Eben-Ezer, enquanto os filisteus acampavam em Afec.2 Os inimigos puseram-se em linha de batalha diante de Israel e começou o combate. Israel voltou as costas aos filisteus, e foram mortos naquele combate cerca de quatro mil homens.3 O povo voltou ao acampamento e os anciãos de Israel disseram: Por que nos deixou o Senhor sermos batidos hoje pelos filisteus? Vamos a Silo e tomemos a arca da aliança do Senhor, para que ela esteja no meio de nós e nos livre da mão de nossos inimigos.4 O povo mandou, pois, buscar em Silo a arca da aliança do Senhor dos exércitos, que se senta sobre querubins. Os dois filhos de Heli, Ofni e Finéias, acompanhavam a arca da aliança de Deus.5 Quando a arca do Senhor entrou no acampamento, todo o Israel rompeu num grande clamor, que fez tremer a terra.6 Os filisteus, ouvindo-o, disseram: Que significa esse grande clamor no acampamento dos hebreus? E souberam que a arca do Senhor tinha chegado ao acampamento.7 Então tiveram medo e disseram: Deus chegou ao acampamento. Ai de nós! Até agora nunca se viu coisa semelhante!8 Ai de nós! Quem nos salvará da mão destes deuses poderosos? São eles que feriram os egípcios com toda a sorte de pragas no deserto.9 Coragem, ó filisteus! Portai-vos varonilmente, não suceda que sejais escravizados aos hebreus como eles o são a vós. Sede homens e combatei.10 Começaram a luta e Israel foi derrotado, fugindo cada um para a sua tenda. Houve um espantoso massacre, tendo caído de Israel trinta mil homens de pé.11 A arca de Deus foi tomada e os dois filhos de Heli, Ofni e Finéias, pereceram.12 Um homem da tribo de Benjamim, tendo escapado à batalha, fugiu naquele mesmo dia para Silo. Trazia a roupa toda rasgada e a cabeça coberta de pó.13 Chegou no momento em que Heli se encontrava sentado numa cadeira, à beira do caminho, inquieto e temeroso pela arca de Deus. Entrando aquele homem na cidade, espalhou-se por toda a parte a noticia, e de toda a cidade elevou-se um grande clamor.14 Heli, ouvindo-o, perguntou: Que clamor é este? Nesse momento chegava o homem para dar-lhe a notícia.15 {Heli tinha noventa e oito anos; seus olhos estavam parados e já não viam.}16 O homem disse-lhe: Venho do campo de batalha, de onde escapei hoje mesmo. Que aconteceu, meu filho?17 Israel, respondeu o mensageiro, fugiu diante dos filisteus; o povo sofreu uma grande derrota. Teus dois filhos, Ofni e Finéias, morreram, e a arca de Deus foi tomada.18 Ao ouvi-lo mencionar a arca de Deus, Heli caiu de sua cadeira para trás, do lado da porta {do templo}, fraturou o crânio e morreu, pois era um homem velho e pesado. Tinha sido juiz em Israel durante quarenta anos.19 Sua nora, mulher de Finéias, estava grávida e próxima do parto. Tendo ouvido que a arca de Deus fora capturada, e que o seu sogro e seu marido tinham morrido, foi subitamente acometida pelas dores do parto e deu à luz.20 E estando para expirar, disseram-lhe as mulheres que a cercavam: Não temas, pois nasceu-te um filho. Mas ela não respondeu, pois estava inconsciente.21 Chamou o filho Icabod, porque, disse a ela, dissipou-se a glória de Israel, já que foi tomada a arca de Deus, e morreram o meu sogro e o meu marido.22 Sim, disse ela, desapareceu a glória de Israel, foi tomada a arca de Deus.

1 And the word of Samuel became known to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben–ha’ezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.2 And the Philistines put themselves in battle–array against Israel; and the battle became general, and Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew on the battle–ground, in the field, about four thousand men.3 And when the people were come back into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us this day before the Philistines? Let us bring over to us out of Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come in the midst of us, and deliver us out of the hand of our enemies.4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought away from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth over the cherubim: and the two sons of ‘Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.5 And it happened when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, that all Israel set up a great shout, so that the earth trembled.6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.7 And the Philistines were afraid; for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for the like of this hath not been, yesterday or the day before.8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with every plague in the wilderness.9 Be strong, and act like men, O Philistines, so that ye become not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been servants to you: therefore act like men, and fight.10 And the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were smitten, and they fled every man unto his tent: and the defeat was very great; and there fell of Israel thirty thousand men on foot.11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of ‘Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, died also.12 And there ran a man of Benjamin from the battlefield, and came to Shiloh on the same day, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head.13 And when he came, lo, ‘Eli was sitting upon a chair by the wayside watching; for his heart was anxious for the ark of God. And when the man came to tell it in the city, all the city cried out.14 And when ‘Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this multitude? And the man came in hastily, and told it to ‘Eli.15 Now ‘Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were fixed, so that he could not see.16 And the man said unto ‘Eli, I am the person that came from the battlefield, and I myself fled from the battlefield today. And he said, What was it that took place, my son?17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath also been a great slaughter among the people, and also thy two sons, Chophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God hath been taken.18 And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from off the chair backward by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died; for the man was old, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.19 And his daughter–in–law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings concerning that the ark of God had been taken, and that her father–in–law and her husband were dead, she sank down and gave birth; for her pains came suddenly upon her.20 And at the moment of her dying, the women that stood around her spoke unto her, Fear not; for a son hast thou born. But she answered not, nor did she take it to heart.21 And she named the child I–chabod, saying, Glory is departed from Israel; because of the taking away of the ark of God, and because of her father–in–law and her husband.22 And she said, Glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God hath been taken away.