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
a posture of adoration to the ark； they were in very great
distress and confusion。 At length God sent a very destructive
disease upon the city and country of Ashdod； for they died of the
dysentery or flux； a sore distemper； that brought death upon them
very suddenly； for before the soul could； as usual in easy
deaths； be well loosed from the body； they brought up their
entrails； and vomited up what they had eaten； and what was
entirely corrupted by the disease。 And as to the fruits of their
country； a great multitude of mice arose out of the earth and
hurt them； and spared neither the plants nor the fruits。 Now
while the people of Ashdod were under these misfortunes； and were
not able to support themselves under their calamities； they
perceived that they suffered thus because of the ark； and that
the victory they had gotten； and their having taken the ark
captive； had not happened for their good； they therefore sent to
the people of Askelon； and desired that they would receive the
ark among them。 This desire of the people of Ashdod was not
disagreeable to those of Askelon； so they granted them that
favor。 But when they had gotten the ark； they were in the same
miserable condition； for the ark carried along with it the
disasters that the people of Ashdod had suffered； to those who
received it from them。 Those of Askelon also sent it away from
themselves to others： nor did it stay among those others neither；
for since they were pursued by the same disasters； they still
sent it to the neighboring cities； so that the ark went round；
after this manner； to the five cities of the Philistines； as
though it exacted these disasters as a tribute to be paid it for
its coming among them。
2。 When those that had experienced these miseries were tired out
with them； and when those that heard of them were taught thereby
not to admit the ark among them； since they paid so dear a
tribute for it； at length they sought for some contrivance and
method how they might get free from it： so the governors of the
five cities； Gath； and Ekron； and Askelon； as also of Gaza； and
Ashclod； met together； and considered what was fit to be done；
and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its own
people； as allowing that God had avenged its cause； that the
miseries they had undergone came along with it； and that these
were sent on their cities upon its account； and together with it。
However； there were those that said they should not do so； nor
suffer themselves to be deluded； as ascribing the cause of their
miseries to it； because it could not have such power and force
upon them； for； had God had such a regard to it； it would not
have been delivered into the hands of men。 So they exhorted them
to be quiet； and to take patiently what had befallen them； and to
suppose there was no other cause of it but nature； which； at
certain revolutions of time； produces such mutations in the
bodies of men； in the earth； in plants； and in all things that
grow out of the earth。 But the counsel that prevailed over those
already described； was that of certain men； who were believed to
have distinguished themselves in former times for their
understanding and prudence； and who； in their present
circumstances； seemed above all the rest to speak properly。 These
men said it was not right either to send the ark away； or to
retain it； but to dedicate five golden images； one for every
city； as a thank…offering to God； on account of his having taken
care of their preservation； and having kept them alive when their
lives were likely to be taken away by such distempers as they
were not able to bear up against。 They also would have them make
five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their
country （2） to put them in a bag； and lay them upon the ark； to
make them a new cart also for it； and to yoke milch kine to it
（3） but to shut up their calves； and keep them from them； lest；
by following after them； they should prove a hinderance to their
dams； and that the dams might return the faster out of a desire
of those calv