And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
Parallel translations
- WEB God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
- BSB The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
- NKJV Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
- NASB Moreover, the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
- NLT The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The ark of God is captured and Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas are killed, fulfilling God's word. God's judgment falls exactly as He foretold.
Overview
In a single verse the unthinkable happens: the ark is taken and the two wicked priests die on the same day, just as prophesied (2:34). God allowed His ark to be captured to chasten Israel and to vindicate His holiness against corrupt worship. The death of the priests confirms that God's word of judgment is sure, while pointing to the need for a faithful Priest who never falls.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Sam 2:34And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
- Ps 78:64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
- Isa 3:11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
- 1 Sam 2:32And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
- Ps 78:60–61So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.