1 Samuel 4:1-2

Expanded Bible

4 So, ·news about Samuel [or Samuel’s words] spread through all of Israel.

The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Agreement

At that time the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines [^Ca rival nation occupying the southwest coast of Israel]. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer [^Csomewhere near Aphek; means “stone of help”] and the Philistines [^Lcamped] at Aphek [^Con the plain of Sharon, northeast of Joppa]. ² The Philistines ·went [deployed; drew up in battlelines] to meet the Israelites in battle. And ·as the battle spread [or when battle was joined], they defeated the Israelites, killing about four thousand soldiers on the battlefield.