1 Samuel 4:10

The Philistines Capture the Ark · 1 Samuel 4:1–11
Read 1 Samuel 4

Translations

Modern
So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
Traditional
And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
Literal
And the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent, and there was a very great slaughter, and there fell from Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.
Latin
Pugnaverunt ergo Philisthiim, et cæsus est Israël, et fugit unusquisque in tabernaculum suum: et facta est plaga magna nimis, et ceciderunt de Israël triginta millia peditum.

Original

Hebrew
English
So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.

Notes

30,000 was over seven times the number who had died before without the ark (1 Samuel 4:2). The Israelites learned that the ark was not a magical object to prevent bad luck.

The crisis with the ark of the covenant showed Israel needed Samuel's leadership. It also fulfilled prophecies about Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14).

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant Ashkelon Ebenezer Ephraim (Place) Plague Samuel (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second Saul Shiloh

Topics

Aphek: A City of the Tribe of Issachar: Philistines Defeat Israelites At Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Captured by the Philstines Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Taken to Battle Armies: March in Ranks: Ark Taken to Battle Israel: Under the Judges: Struck Down by the Philistines at Eben-Ezer Judgments: Eli's House Parents: Involved in Children's Wickedness Superstition: Israelites Tents were Used by The People of Israel in all Their Wars The Philistines: Defeated Israel and Took the Ark