New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Samuel 3
16 But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.” “Here I am,” Samuel replied.
17 “What did the LORD say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!”
18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the LORD’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
19 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
1 Samuel 4
1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.In print editions of the NLT, this sentence is set at the end of 3:21. At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek.
2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.
3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God.
5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
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