Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 108
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
1S
| 4:2-18
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was
camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. The Philis
tines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. After
the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders
of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Phi
listines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the
Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from
our enemies.”
So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the
Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.
Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the
Covenant of God. When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of
the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made
the ground shake!
“What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about
in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the
Lord had arrived, they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!”
they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this
before! Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They
are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel
was in the wilderness. Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we
will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like
men and fight!”
So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The
slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors
turned and fled to their tents. The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni
and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived
at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his
head to show his grief. Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of
the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When
the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded
throughout the town.
“What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, who was n inety-eight years old and
blind. He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there
this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.
“Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The
people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas,
were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured.”
When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of