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she said she had drank water； but was in sorrow for want of
children； and was beseeching God for them； he bid her be of good
cheer； and told her that God would send her children。
3。 So she came to her husband full of hope； and ate her meal with
gladness。 And when they had returned to their own country she
found herself with child； and they had a son born to them； to
whom they gave the name of Samuel； which may be styled one that
was asked of God。 They therefore came to the tabernacle to offer
sacrifice for the birth of the child； and brought their tithes
with them； but the woman remembered the vows she had made
concerning her son； and delivered him to Eli； dedicating him to
God； that he might become a prophet。 Accordingly his hair was
suffered to grow long； and his drink was water。 So Samuel dwelt
and was brought up in the temple。 But Elcanah had other sons by
Hannah； and three daughters。
4。 Now when Samuel was twelve years old； he began to prophesy：
and once when he was asleep； God called to him by his name； and
he； supposing he had been called by the high priest； came to him：
but when the high priest said he did not call him； God did so
thrice。 Eli was then so far illuminated； that he said to him；
〃Indeed； Samuel； I was silent now as well as before： it is God
that calls thee； do thou therefore signify it to him； and say； I
am here ready。〃 So when he heard God speak again； he desired him
to speak； and to deliver what oracles he pleased to him； for he
would not fail to perform any ministration whatsoever he should
make use of him in； … to which God replied； 〃Since thou art here
ready； learn what miseries are coming upon the Israelites； … such
indeed as words cannot declare； nor faith believe； for the sons
of Eli shall die on one day； and the priesthood shall be
transferred into the family of Eleazar； for Eli hath loved his
sons more than he hath loved my worship； and to such a degree as
is not for their advantage。〃 Which message Eli obliged the
prophet by oath to tell him； for otherwise he had no inclination
to afflict him by telling it。 And now Eli had a far more sure
expectation of the perdition of his sons； but the glory of Samuel
increased more and more； it being found by experience that
whatsoever he prophesied came to pass accordingly。 （22）
CHAPTER 11。
Herein Is Declared What Befell The Sons Of Eli； The Ark； And The
People And How Eli Himself Died Miserably。
1。 About this time it was that the Philistines made war against
the Israelites； and pitched their camp at the city Aphek。 Now
when the Israelites had expected them a little while； the very
next day they joined battle； and the Philistines were conquerors；
and slew above four thousand of the Hebrews； and pursued the rest
of their multitude to their camp。
2。 So the Hebrews being afraid of the worst； sent to the senate；
and to the high priest； and desired that they would bring the ark
of God； that by putting themselves in array； when it was present
with them； they might be too hard for their enemies； as not
reflecting that he who had condemned them to endure these
calamities was greater than the ark； and for whose sake it was
that this ark came to be honored。 So the ark came； and the sons
of the high priest with it； having received a charge from their
father； that if they pretended to survive the taking of the ark；
they should come no more into his presence； for Phineas
officiated already as high priest； his father having resigned his
office to him； by reason of his great age。 So the Hebrews were
full of courage； as supposing that； by the coming of the ark；
they should be too hard for their enemies： their enemies also
were greatly concerned； and were afraid of the ark's coming to
the Israelites： however； the upshot did not prove agreeable to
the expectation of both sides； but when the battle was joined；
that victory which the Hebrews expected was gained by the
Philistines； and that defeat the Philistines were afraid of fell
to the lot of the Israelites； and thereby they found that they
had put their trust in the ark in vain； for they were presently
beaten as soon as they came to a close fight with their enemies；
and lost about thirty thousand men； among whom were the sons of
the high priest； but the ark was carried away by the enemies。
3。 When the news of this defeat came to Shiloh； with that of the
captivity of the ark； （for a certain young man； a Benjamite； who
was in the action； came as a messenger thither；） the whole city
was full of lamentations。 And Eli； the high priest； who sat upon
a high throne at one of the gates； heard their mournful cries；
and supposed that some strange thing had befallen his family。 So
he sent for the young man； and when he understood what had
happened in the battle； he was not much uneasy as to his sons； or
what was told him withal about the army； as having beforehand
known by Divine revelation that those things would happen； and
having himself declared them beforehand； … for what sad things
come unexpectedly they distress men the most； but as soon as ＇he
heard＇ the ark was carried captive by their enemies； he was very
much grieved at it； because it fell out quite differently from
what he expected； so he fell down from his throne and died；
having in all lived ninety…eight years； and of them retained the
government forty。
4。 On the same day his son Phineas's wife died also； as not able
to survive the misfortune of her husband； for they told her of
her husband's death as she was in labor。 However； she bare a son
at seven months； who lived； and to whom they gave the name of
Icabod； which name signifies disgrace； … and this because the
army received a disgrace at this thee。
5。 Now Eli was the first of the family of Ithamar； the other son
of Aaron； that had the government； for the family of Eleazar
officiated as high priest at first； the son still receiving that
honor from the father which Eleazar bequeathed to his son
Phineas； after whom Abiezer his son took the honor； and delivered
it to his son； whose name was Bukki； from whom his son Ozi
received it； after whom Eli； of whom we have been speaking； had
the priesthood； and so he and his posterity until the thee of
Solomon's reign； but then the posterity of Eleazar reassumed it。
BOOK VI。
Containing The Interval Of Thirty…Two Years。
From The Death Of Eli To The Death Of Saul。
CHAPTER 1。
The Destruction That Came Upon The Philistines； And Upon Their
Land； By The Wrath Of Go On Account Of Their Having Carried The
Ark Away Captive； And After What Manner They Sent It Back To The
Hebrews。
1。 When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive；
as I said a little before； they carried it to the city of Ashdod；
and put it by their own god； who was called Dagon； （1） as one of
their spoils； but when they went into his temple the next morning
to worship their god； they found him paying the same worship to
the ark； for he lay along； as having fallen down from the basis
whereon he had stood： so they took him up； and set him on his
basis again； and were much troubled at what had happened； and as
they frequently came to Dagon and found him still lying along； in