Online Bible

First Book of Samuel, Chapter 4

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1 Samuel 4 NWT - New World Translation1 Samuel 4 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 4 of 1 Samuel—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ And the word of Samuel continued to come[a] to all Israel.[b]
    ¶ Then Israel went out to meet the Phi·lisʹtines[c] in battle; and they took up camping alongside[d] Eb·en·eʹzer,[e]1 and the Phi·lisʹtines themselves encamped in Aʹphek.2
  2. And the Phi·lisʹtines proceeded to draw up in formation3 to meet Israel, and the battle went badly,[f] so that Israel was defeated before the Phi·lisʹtines,4 who went striking down about four thousand men[g] in closed battle line in the field.
  3. When the people came to the camp the older men[h] of Israel began to say: “Why did Jehovah defeat us today before the Phi·lisʹtines?5 Let us take to ourselves from Shiʹloh the ark of Jehovah’s covenant,6 that it may come into our midst and may save us from the palm of our enemies.”
  4. So the people sent to Shiʹloh and carried from there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of armies, who is sitting upon[i] the cherubs.7 And the two sons of Eʹli were there with the ark of the covenant of the [true] God,[j] namely, Hophʹni and Phinʹe·has.8
  5. ¶ And it came about that as soon as the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all the Israelites broke out into loud shouting,9 so that the earth was in a stir.
  6. The Phi·lisʹtines also got to hear the sound of the shouting and began saying: “What does the sound of this loud shouting10 in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Finally they got to know that the ark of Jehovah itself had come into the camp.
  7. And the Phi·lisʹtines became afraid, because, they said: “God[k] has come into the camp!”11 So they said: “Woe to us, for such a thing as this never occurred before!
  8. Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of this majestic God? This is the God that was the smiter[l] of Egypt with every sort of slaughter in the wilderness.12
  9. Show yourselves courageous and prove yourselves men, YOU Phi·lisʹtines, that YOU may not serve the Hebrews just as they have served YOU;13 and YOU must prove yourselves men and fight!”
  10. Accordingly the Phi·lisʹtines fought and Israel was defeated,14 and they went fleeing each one to his tent;[m]15 and the slaughter came to be very great,16 so that out of Israel there fell thirty thousand men on foot.17
  11. And the ark of God[n] itself was captured,18 and the two sons of Eʹli, Hophʹni and Phinʹe·has, died.19
  12. ¶ And a man of Benjamin went running from the battle line so that he arrived at Shiʹloh on that day with his garments ripped apart20 and dirt on his head.21
  13. When he arrived, there was Eʹli sitting on the seat by the roadside, watching, because his heart had become atremble over the ark of the [true] God.22 And the man himself went in to report in the city, and the whole city began crying out.
  14. And Eʹli got to hear the sound of the outcry. So he said: “What does the sound of this turmoil mean?”23 And the man himself hurried that he might go in and report to Eʹli.
  15. (Now Eʹli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had set so that he was unable to see.)24
  16. And the man proceeded to say to Eʹli: “I am the one coming from the battle line,[o] and I—it is from the battle line that I have fled today.” At this he said: “What is the thing that has happened, my son?”
  17. So the news bearer answered and said: “Israel has fled before the Phi·lisʹtines, and there has also occurred a great defeat among the people;25 and also your own two sons have died—Hophʹni and Phinʹe·has26—and the very ark of the [true] God has been captured.”27
  18. ¶ And it came about that at the moment that he mentioned[p] the ark of the [true] God, he began to fall from the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck got broken so that he died, because the man was old and heavy; and he himself had judged Israel forty years.
  19. And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinʹe·has, was pregnant near to giving birth, and she got to hear the report that the ark of the [true] God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband had died. At that she bowed herself and began giving birth, because her pangs came unexpectedly[q] upon her.28
  20. And about the time of her death, the women standing by her began to speak: “Do not be afraid, because it is a son that you have borne.”29 And she did not answer and did not set her heart on it.
  21. But she called the boy Ichʹa·bod,[r]30 saying: “Glory has gone away from Israel into exile,”31 [this] with reference to the ark of the [true] God’s being captured and with reference to her father-in-law and her husband.32
  22. So she said: “Glory has gone away from Israel into exile,33 because the ark of the [true] God[s] has been captured.”34

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Or, “occur.”
  2. ^ Many Heb. mss have an open space here, possibly to indicate an omission, which would be filled by this addition of LXX: “And it occurred in those days that the Philistines began gathering together against Israel for battle.”
  3. ^ Or, “went out against the Philistines,” M; LXX, “went out to meet them.”
  4. ^ Or, “upon.”
  5. ^ “Ebenezer.” Lit., “the Stone Help.” Heb., ha·ʼEʹven (“the Stone”) ha·ʽEʹzer (“the Help”); Gr., A·be·neʹzer; Vg, “the Stone of Help.” Compare 7:12 ftn, “Ebenezer.”
  6. ^ “The battle kept inclining,” LXX, that is, adversely to Israel.
  7. ^ “Who went striking down about four thousand men,” M; LXXSyVg, “and (about) four thousand men were struck down.”
  8. ^ Or, “elders.”
  9. ^ Or, “between.” M omits.
  10. ^ “The [true] God.” Heb., ha·ʼElo·himʹ; SyVg, “Jehovah”; Vgc, “God.” See App 1F.
  11. ^ “God.” Heb., ʼElo·himʹ, pl. to denote majesty, with the sing. verb “has come”; LXX, “These gods”; Lat., Deʹus.
  12. ^ Or, “these majestic gods? These are the gods that were the smiters.” These words are pl. in M and may denote majesty even by the pagan Philistines. See 5:7 ftn.
  13. ^ “Tent,” LXXSyVg; M, “tents.”
  14. ^ “God.” Heb., ʼElo·himʹ; Gr., The·ouʹ; Lat., Deʹi; Sy, “Jehovah.”
  15. ^ “Battle line,” M; Vg, “battle”; LXX, “camp.”
  16. ^ Or, “brought to remembrance.”
  17. ^ Lit., “her pangs turned.”
  18. ^ Meaning “Where Is the Glory?”
  19. ^ “The [true] God.” Heb., ha·ʼElo·himʹ; LXX, “Jehovah.” See App 1F.

REFERENCES

  1. ^ 1Sa 5:1
  2. ^ Jos 12:18
  3. ^ 1Sa 17:21
  4. ^ Jos 7:12; Ps 44:9; 79:7; 106:41
  5. ^ De 28:25; 32:30; Jg 2:14
  6. ^ Nu 14:44; Jos 6:4; 1Sa 14:18; 2Sa 15:25
  7. ^ Ex 25:18; Nu 7:89; 2Sa 6:2; 2Ki 19:15; Ps 80:1; 99:1
  8. ^ Nu 4:15; 1Sa 2:12
  9. ^ Je 7:4
  10. ^ Ex 32:17
  11. ^ Ex 14:25; 15:14
  12. ^ Ex 7:5; Ps 78:43, 51
  13. ^ Nu 33:56; De 28:48; Jg 10:7; 13:1
  14. ^ Le 26:17; De 28:25; 1Sa 4:2
  15. ^ 1Ki 22:36
  16. ^ De 28:25; Jg 2:14
  17. ^ Ps 78:62
  18. ^ 1Sa 4:3; Ps 78:61; La 2:17
  19. ^ 1Sa 2:31, 34; 4:17; Ps 78:64; Ec 8:8, 13
  20. ^ 2Sa 1:2
  21. ^ Jos 7:6; 2Sa 13:19; 15:32; Ne 9:1; Jb 2:12
  22. ^ 1Sa 4:4
  23. ^ 1Sa 4:10
  24. ^ 1Sa 3:2; Ps 90:10
  25. ^ 1Sa 3:11; 4:10
  26. ^ 1Sa 2:34; Ps 78:64
  27. ^ 1Sa 4:11; Ps 78:61; La 2:17
  28. ^ Ge 35:16
  29. ^ Ge 35:17
  30. ^ 1Sa 14:3
  31. ^ 1Sa 4:5, 11; Ps 78:61
  32. ^ 1Sa 2:32, 34
  33. ^ De 28:15
  34. ^ 1Sa 4:11; 2Ch 8:11; Je 7:12

Read 1 Samuel Chapter 4 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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