Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 4ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ Δ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Israel's defeat and the ark's capture bring the death of Eli and the departure of glory from Israel.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms 4 (= 1 Samuel 4) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter narrates the double catastrophe of Israel's defeat by the Philistines: a first rout at Aphek/Ebenezer (vv. 1–2), the disastrous decision of the elders to carry the ark of the covenant from Shiloh into the camp as a war-talisman (vv. 3–4), the great shout that terrifies the Philistines into the cry οὗτοι οἱ θεοὶ ἥκασιν ('these gods have come', v. 7) and rouses them to fight as men (vv. 5–9), the second and greater rout in which the ark is captured (ἐλήμφθη) and Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas die (vv. 10–11), the running of the Benjamite messenger to Shiloh and the death of the aged Eli, who falls backward from his seat at the gate and breaks his neck (vv. 12–18), and finally the death in childbirth of Phinehas' wife, who names her son Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ ('Ichabod') and pronounces the chapter's theological epitaph: ἀπῴκισται δόξα Ισραηλ ('the glory has been carried away from Israel', vv. 19–22). The Septuagint of 1–4 Kingdoms reflects the kaige recension in part and frequently renders the Hebrew with vivid historic presents (συναθροίζονται, παρεμβάλλουσιν, αἴρουσιν, πταίει). The chapter's dominant theological term is δόξα ('glory', v. 22), the LXX rendering of כָּבוֹד, which here denotes the presence of YHWH localized at the ark; the capture of the ark is therefore the departure of the glory. The repeated verb λαμβάνω in the passive (ἐλήμφθη, vv. 11, 17; λημφθῆναι, v. 22) and the noun κιβωτός ('ark', a Leitwort recurring throughout) bind the narrative into a single meditation on the loss of the divine presence. The Philistine cry οὐαὶ ἡμῖν (vv. 7, 8) and their fearful memory of the plagues on Egypt (v. 8) ironically place orthodox Israelite theology on pagan lips.

1

καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ συναθροίζονται ἀλλόφυλοι εἰς πόλεμον ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ισραηλ εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῖς εἰς πόλεμον καὶ παρεμβάλλουσιν ἐπὶ Αβενεζερ καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι παρεμβάλλουσιν ἐν Αφεκ

And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered together for war against Israel, and Israel went out to meet them for battle, and they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.

Narrative setting-formula opening a new episodeκαὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις
The temporal frame καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις renders the Hebrew narrative opener וַיְהִי and sets the scene for the Philistine war. The shift into the historic present (συναθροίζονται … παρεμβάλλουσιν) gives the mustering of the armies vivid immediacy, a characteristic feature of the Kingdoms translator's style.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιimpersonal main verb (setting-formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to be / happen'; renders the Hebrew narrative-opening וַיְהִי; the impersonal 'and it came to pass' is the standard LXX device for launching a new episode and is paired here with the temporal phrase ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (temporal frame)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') renders בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, a stock LXX time-marker that loosely connects the new episode to the foregoing Samuel narrative.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέραις)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that / those'; the distal demonstrative anchors the episode in the period of Eli's judgeship just narrated.
καὶandapodotic καί (Hebraism: resumes after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here apodotic, picking up the main clause after the temporal frame ('in those days … the Philistines gathered'); a Hebraism reflecting the syntax of וַיְהִי … וַ-.
συναθροίζονταιgather togetherPres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · συναθροίζωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateσυναθροίζω: 'gather / assemble together'; the compound συν- stresses the massing of the Philistine forces; the historic present renders the Hebrew narrative tense vividly, drawing the reader into the mustering.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: literally 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines') in Samuel–Kingdoms; the term frames them not by ethnicity but by their otherness to the covenant people, the recurring antagonists of this chapter.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative of purpose (εἰς πόλεμον: 'for war')→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the phrase εἰς πόλεμον ('for war') recurs in the verse, framing both the Philistine advance and Israel's response.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐπί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the collective people / army as the object of the Philistine attack.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Israel's counter-deployment)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; the singular verb with the collective Ισραηλ treats the nation as a single military body marching out to engage.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
ἀπάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative of purpose (εἰς ἀπάντησιν: 'to meet')→ object specificationἀπάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; the idiom ἐξέρχομαι εἰς ἀπάντησιν renders יָצָא לִקְרַאת ('go out to meet'); in a martial context it denotes confrontation rather than welcome.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative complement of ἀπάντησιν ('to meet them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτοῖς is governed by ἀπάντησιν, the regular construction for 'to meet someone.'
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose, repeated)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose, repeated).
πόλεμονbattleAccusativeaccusative of purpose (repetition emphasizing martial intent)→ object specificationπόλεμον: meaning 'battle'; it serves as accusative of purpose (repetition emphasizing martial intent).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεμβάλλουσινthey encampPres Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (historic present: Israel encamps)→ verbal action or stateπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp / draw up'; renders חָנָה; the historic present continues the vivid sequence; the verb is cognate with παρεμβολή ('camp'), the place to which the people return in v. 3.
ἐπὶatpreposition + accusative (location of camp)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location of camp).
ΑβενεζερEbenezerobject of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑβενεζερ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר ('stone of help'); indeclinable; Israel's camp-site, ironically named, since no help comes here — the place will be reused with redemptive sense at 1 Kgdms 7:12.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject (with article, the now-identified foes)→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλοι: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβάλλουσινencampPres Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (historic present: Philistines encamp)→ verbal action or stateπαρεμβάλλω: the repeated verb sets the two camps over against each other (Ebenezer / Aphek), framing the battlefield.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location of camp)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location of camp).
ΑφεκAphekobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑφεκ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲפֵק ('Aphek'); indeclinable; the Philistine camp-site on the coastal plain frontier with Israel.
2

καὶ παρατάσσονται οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι εἰς πόλεμον ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἔκλινεν ὁ πόλεμος καὶ ἔπταισεν ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ἐνώπιον ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐπλήγησαν ἐν τῇ παρατάξει ἐν ἀγρῷ τέσσαρες χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν

And the Philistines drew up in battle array against Israel, and the battle turned, and the man of Israel was struck down before the Philistines, and there were struck in the battle array in the field four thousand men.

Battle narration: first engagement and its outcomeκαὶ παρατάσσονται
The verse moves from deployment (παρατάσσονται, historic present) to result (the aorists ἔκλινεν, ἔπταισεν, ἐπλήγησαν). The pivotal clause ἔκλινεν ὁ πόλεμος ('the battle turned / leaned') marks the tide going against Israel; the cognate pair παρατάσσονται / παρατάξει frames the engagement, and the casualty figure (four thousand) closes the report.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρατάσσονταιdraw up in battle arrayPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateπαρατάσσω (mid.): 'draw up in line of battle / array oneself'; renders עָרַךְ (מִלְחָמָה); the middle voice describes the Philistines forming their own ranks; cognate with παράταξις ('battle-line') later in the verse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλοι: meaning 'Philistines'; it serves as subject.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative of purpose→ object specificationπόλεμον: meaning 'war'; it serves as accusative of purpose.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐπί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ἐπί (indeclinable proper noun).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλινενturned / inclinedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλίνωmain verb (the battle turns)→ verbal action or stateκλίνω: 'bend / incline / turn'; here intransitive of the battle 'leaning' — i.e., going badly; ἔκλινεν ὁ πόλεμος is an idiom for the engagement turning to one side's disadvantage; the same verb describes routs and the waning of the day elsewhere in Kingdoms.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμοςbattleNominativesubject of ἔκλινεν→ participant prominenceπόλεμος: here 'the battle' as a concrete engagement (rather than 'war' in the abstract); its 'turning' is the narrative hinge of the first defeat.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπταισενwas struck down / stumbledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πταίωmain verb (Israel's defeat)→ verbal action or stateπταίω: 'stumble / be tripped up / be defeated'; renders נָגַף (Niphal) 'be smitten / routed'; the singular subject ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ('the man of Israel') is collective; the verb recurs in v. 3 (ἔπταισεν ἡμᾶς κύριος) where the elders attribute the stumble to YHWH himself.
ἀνὴρthe man / each manNominativesubject (collective singular: 'the men of Israel')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the collective singular ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ('the man of Israel') renders אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, an idiom for the Israelite fighting force as a corporate body.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἀνήρ (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here functions as an attributive genitive ('the man of Israel'), though uninflected.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'in the face of')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; with verbs of defeat it means 'routed in the face of (the enemy).'
ἀλλοφύλωνthe PhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationἀλλοφύλων: meaning 'the Philistines'; it serves as genitive object of ἐνώπιον.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπλήγησανwere struck / fellAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πλήσσωmain verb (casualty report)→ verbal action or stateπλήσσω (aor. pass.): 'strike / smite / wound'; the passive ἐπλήγησαν ('were struck down / slain') governs the casualty number; cognate with πληγή ('blow / plague'), the term for total slaughter in v. 10 and 17.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξειbattle arrayDativedative of place (location of the slaughter)→ sphere or referenceπαράταξις: 'battle-line / array / engagement'; cognate with παρατάσσονται at the verse's head; here it denotes the place / event of the fighting; the term recurs in vv. 12, 16.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place ('in the field')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; specifies the open battlefield where the slaughter occurred.
τέσσαρεςfourNominativenumeral (modifying χιλιάδες)→ measure or countτέσσαρες: 'four'; the cardinal modifies χιλιάδες; renders אַרְבַּעַת.
χιλιάδεςthousandNominativesubject of ἐπλήγησαν (the number slain)→ participant prominenceχιλιάς: 'a thousand'; the casualty figure (τέσσαρες χιλιάδες, 'four thousand') is a deliberate foil to the thirty thousand of the second, ark-attended defeat (v. 10).
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive / descriptive genitive ('four thousand of men')→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. pl. ἀνδρῶν): 'men'; the genitive of content specifies that the four thousand are fighting men.
3

καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν καὶ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ισραηλ κατὰ τί ἔπταισεν ἡμᾶς κύριος σήμερον ἐνώπιον ἀλλοφύλων λάβωμεν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐκ Σηλωμ καὶ ἐξελθέτω ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν

And the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, 'Why has the LORD struck us down today before the Philistines? Let us take the ark of our God from Shiloh, and let it go out in our midst, and it will save us from the hand of our enemies.'

Direct speech: the elders' deliberation (subordinate to the narrative)καὶ εἶπαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ισραηλ
The elders correctly diagnose the defeat as YHWH's doing (ἔπταισεν ἡμᾶς κύριος) but draw the wrong conclusion: rather than repentance they propose to fetch the ark as a battle-talisman. The hortatory subjunctive λάβωμεν, the imperative ἐξελθέτω, and the confident future σώσει chart a presumptuous theology that treats the ark as a mechanism guaranteeing victory.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the people return to camp)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the singular verb agrees with the collective ὁ λαός; the survivors return to the παρεμβολή ('camp') of v. 1.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the standard LXX term for Israel as covenant community (rendering עַם); here the surviving army returning from the field.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; cognate with παρεμβάλλω (v. 1); the camp is the setting for the elders' fateful deliberation.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): the Hellenistic first-aorist ending -αν (for classical εἶπον); introduces the direct speech of the elders.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זְקֵנִים; the leadership council of Israel, whose collective decision drives the ark into the camp; their authority makes the misjudgment a national one.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of πρεσβύτεροι (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of πρεσβύτεροι (indeclinable).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (in the idiom κατὰ τί, 'why')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: in the phrase κατὰ τί it forms an interrogative idiom 'on what account? / why?', rendering לָמָּה.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with κατά: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; κατὰ τί = 'wherefore / why'; the question is theologically loaded — the elders rightly attribute the defeat to YHWH but seek a remedy in ritual rather than repentance.
ἔπταισενhas struck downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πταίωmain verb of the question→ verbal action or stateπταίω: here transitive/causative, 'cause to stumble / defeat'; the elders make κύριος the subject ('the LORD has tripped us up'), a remarkable confession that the defeat is divine discipline; cf. the intransitive use in v. 2.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine agent of the defeat)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the elders name YHWH as the active cause of Israel's defeat — sound theology, but their proposed remedy (fetching the ark) treats the divine presence as a manipulable instrument.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; marks the defeat as the immediate provocation for the deliberation.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the face of'; Hebraism for לִפְנֵי, here with the sense 'routed in the presence of (the enemy).'
ἀλλοφύλωνthe PhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationἀλλοφύλων: meaning 'the Philistines'; it serves as genitive object of ἐνώπιον.
λάβωμενlet us takeAor Act Subj 1 Pl · λαμβάνωhortatory subjunctive (the elders' proposal)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the hortatory λάβωμεν ('let us take') initiates the disastrous plan; the passive of this same verb (ἐλήμφθη, vv. 11, 17; λημφθῆναι, v. 22) will report the ark's capture — a grim verbal irony: they take the ark, and the ark is taken from them.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of λάβωμεν→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'ark / chest / box'; renders אֲרוֹן; the ark of the covenant, the throne-footstool of YHWH and locus of his presence; the Leitwort of the chapter (occurring in vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of our God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the phrase ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ('the ark of God') is the dominant designation in this chapter, stressing that the captured object is the very seat of the divine presence.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession ('our God')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('our God').
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΣηλωμShilohobject of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣηλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁלֹה ('Shiloh'); indeclinable; the central sanctuary where the ark resided under Eli's priesthood; removing the ark from its sacred resting-place to the battlefield is the heart of the elders' presumption.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελθέτωlet it go outAor Act Impv 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιthird-person imperative (the ark to 'go out' to war)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; the third-person imperative ἐξελθέτω treats the ark almost as a combatant marching out to battle in their midst; this near-personification reflects the talismanic misuse of the ark.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
μέσῳmidstDativedative of place (ἐν μέσῳ: 'in the midst')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ ἡμῶν ('in our midst') renders בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ; the elders want the ark physically among them, expecting its presence to compel divine aid.
ἡμῶνusGenitivepartitive genitive (with μέσῳ: 'in the midst of us')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as partitive genitive (with μέσῳ: 'in the midst of us').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σώσειit will saveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the expected outcome)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω: 'save / deliver / rescue'; renders יָשַׁע / הוֹשִׁיעַ; the subject of σώσει is the ark — the elders expect the object itself to deliver them, a category error that the narrative will expose: the ark is captured, not the deliverer.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source/separation).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiomatic: 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς ('from the hand of') is a Hebraism (מִיַּד) for 'from the power of'; the deliverance the elders crave is precisely what fails to come.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive of relationship ('hand of our enemies')→ relational specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; renders אֹיֵב; the Philistines as Israel's foes; the irony is that the ark will pass into the enemies' hand rather than rescuing Israel from it.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession ('our enemies')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('our enemies').
4

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς Σηλωμ καὶ αἴρουσιν ἐκεῖθεν τὴν κιβωτὸν κυρίου καθημένου χερουβιμ καὶ ἀμφότεροι οἱ υἱοὶ Ηλι μετὰ τῆς κιβωτοῦ Οφνι καὶ Φινεες

And the people sent to Shiloh, and they took up from there the ark of the LORD who is enthroned upon the cherubim, and both the sons of Eli were with the ark, Hophni and Phinehas.

Narrative execution of the elders' planκαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ λαὸς
The plan of v. 3 is carried out: the people send to Shiloh and fetch the ark. The solemn liturgical title κιβωτὸς κυρίου καθημένου χερουβιμ ('the ark of the LORD who is enthroned upon the cherubim') heightens the gravity of removing it to a battlefield. The naming of Hophni and Phinehas anticipates their death in v. 11, fulfilling the judgment oracle of 1 Kgdms 2:34.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the people dispatch messengers)→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (on a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the singular verb with collective ὁ λαός; the people send to Shiloh to fetch the ark.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαὸς: meaning 'people'; it serves as subject.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣηλωμShilohobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣηλωμ: Shiloh, the sanctuary-town; the destination of the dispatch to retrieve the ark.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἴρουσινthey take upPres Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (historic present: lifting the ark)→ verbal action or stateαἴρω: 'lift up / take up / carry'; renders נָשָׂא; the historic present makes the lifting of the ark vivid; the verb is the proper term for bearing the ark on its poles, though here the solemnity is undercut by the talismanic purpose.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; refers back to Shiloh as the ark's resting-place from which it is now removed.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of αἴρουσιν→ object specificationκιβωτός: the ark; here designated by the full liturgical title that follows (κυρίου καθημένου χερουβιμ).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the title 'ark of the LORD' (κιβωτὸς κυρίου) names YHWH as the one whose throne the ark is; the genitive κυρίου is further qualified by the participle καθημένου.
καθημένουwho is enthronedPres Mid/Dep Part Gen Sg Masc · κάθημαιattributive participle (modifying κυρίου)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι: 'sit / be seated / be enthroned'; the participle agrees with κυρίου; the title κύριος καθήμενος (ἐπὶ) χερουβιμ renders the cultic epithet יהוה יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים ('the LORD enthroned upon the cherubim', cf. 1 Kgdms 4:4; 2 Kgdms 6:2; Ps 79:2; 98:1), depicting the ark's cover (the kapporet) as YHWH's throne flanked by the cherubim.
χερουβιμcherubimobject/locative of καθημένου (indeclinable Hebrew loan)→ clausal contributionχερουβιμ: transliteration of the Hebrew plural כְּרֻבִים ('cherubim'); indeclinable in the LXX; the cherubim images on the ark-cover form YHWH's throne; here construed directly with the participle ('enthroned upon the cherubim') without a preposition, a Hebraizing construction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativepredicate/appositional adjective ('both the sons')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; renders שְׁנֵי; emphasizes that the two priest-sons together accompany the ark — and together perish (v. 11), fulfilling the oracle of 1 Kgdms 2:34 that both would die on the same day.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (with implied verb 'were [there]')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the sons of Eli served as priests at Shiloh; their presence with the ark links the cultic corruption denounced in chs. 2–3 to the disaster of ch. 4.
Ηλιof Eligenitival modifier of υἱοί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of Hebrew עֵלִי ('Eli'); indeclinable in the LXX; the aged priest-judge of Shiloh whose house stands under judgment (1 Kgdms 2:27–36; 3:11–14).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of μετά (accompaniment)→ relational specificationκιβωτός (gen. κιβωτοῦ): the ark; the sons are 'with the ark,' a phrase that binds their fate to its capture.
ΟφνιHophniapposition to υἱοί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΟφνι: transliteration of Hebrew חָפְנִי ('Hophni'); indeclinable; one of Eli's two corrupt sons (cf. 1 Kgdms 1:3; 2:34).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΦινεεςPhinehasapposition to υἱοί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΦινεες: transliteration of Hebrew פִּינְחָס ('Phinehas'); indeclinable; the other son of Eli, whose pregnant wife will die at the news in vv. 19–22; not to be confused with the earlier Phinehas son of Eleazar.
5

καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἦλθεν κιβωτὸς κυρίου εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν καὶ ἀνέκραξεν πᾶς Ισραηλ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἤχησεν ἡ γῆ

And it came to pass, as the ark of the LORD came into the camp, that all Israel cried out with a great voice, and the earth resounded.

Temporal-circumstantial frame for the great shoutκαὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἦλθεν
The arrival of the ark in the camp triggers an exultant war-shout (ἀνέκραξεν … φωνῇ μεγάλῃ) so loud that 'the earth resounded' (ἤχησεν ἡ γῆ). The hyperbole expresses Israel's misplaced confidence that the ark's presence has secured victory; the noise becomes the very thing that alerts and (momentarily) terrifies the Philistines (v. 6).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιimpersonal main verb (temporal frame)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'come to pass'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς … construction renders Hebrew וַיְהִי כְּ-, introducing a circumstantial-temporal clause.
ὡςas / whentemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / when'; temporal here, introducing the moment of the ark's arrival; renders כְּ- with the infinitive construct.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the ark's coming into the camp is the trigger for the shout; the verb is used of the ark as if it were an arriving champion.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of ἦλθεν (anarthrous)→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: the ark; here anarthrous in the title κιβωτὸς κυρίου ('the ark of the LORD'), a fixed designation that recurs in v. 6.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the ark is YHWH's, and its arrival is, to Israelite eyes, the arrival of YHWH himself into the camp.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; the Israelite war-camp, now (they think) sanctified by the ark's presence.
καὶandapodotic καί (after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, introducing the main clause after the ὡς-clause (Hebraism).
ἀνέκραξενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνακράζωmain verb (the war-shout)→ verbal action or stateἀνακράζω: 'cry out / shout aloud'; the compound ἀνα- intensifies the outburst; renders רוּעַ / הֵרִיעַ (raise a war-cry / shout); the singular agrees with the collective πᾶς Ισραηλ.
πᾶςallNominativeadjective (modifying Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶς Ισραηλ ('all Israel') stresses the unanimous, corporate character of the shout.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
φωνῇwith a voiceDativedative of manner / instrument (cognate with the shouting)→ sphere or referenceφωνή: 'voice / sound'; φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ('with a great voice') is a stock dative-of-manner phrase rendering בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל; here the volume of the war-cry.
μεγάλῃgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying φωνῇ)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great / loud'; the adjective intensifies the shout; the same root recurs in the Philistine question τίς ἡ κραυγὴ ἡ μεγάλη (v. 6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤχησενresoundedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἠχέωmain verb (the earth echoes)→ verbal action or stateἠχέω: 'sound / resound / ring'; renders הֹם (the earth was in an uproar); the hyperbole 'the earth resounded' conveys the deafening volume of the war-shout and Israel's exuberant (false) confidence.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearthNominativesubject of ἤχησεν→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / land / ground'; the earth itself is said to echo the shout, a cosmic hyperbole that ironically heralds not victory but the impending loss of the glory.
6

καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι τῆς κραυγῆς καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι τίς ἡ κραυγὴ ἡ μεγάλη αὕτη ἐν παρεμβολῇ τῶν Εβραίων καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι κιβωτὸς κυρίου ἥκει εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν

And the Philistines heard the shout, and the Philistines said, 'What is this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?' And they knew that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

Reaction-scene: the Philistines hear and understandκαὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι
The narrative pivots to the Philistine camp: they hear the κραυγή, question its cause, and learn (ἔγνωσαν) that the ark has arrived. The designation τῶν Εβραίων ('of the Hebrews') is the outsiders' term for Israel, characteristic of foreign speech in the Pentateuch and Samuel. Their recognition sets up the dread of v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσανheardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (Philistines hear the shout)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; renders שָׁמַע; takes the genitive object τῆς κραυγῆς ('heard the shout'); the perception of the noise drives the whole Philistine reaction-sequence.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλοι: meaning 'Philistines'; it serves as subject.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κραυγῆςshoutGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσαν→ relational specificationκραυγή: 'shout / outcry / clamor'; renders תְּרוּעָה (war-shout); ἀκούω governs the genitive of the thing heard; the term recurs in the Philistines' own question.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπον): introduces the Philistines' direct question.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject (resumptive)→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: the repetition of the subject (heard … said) is a Hebraizing redundancy characteristic of the LXX narrative style.
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who / what'; here 'what is …?', introducing the Philistines' alarmed question.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κραυγὴshoutNominativesubject of the verbless question→ participant prominenceκραυγή: 'shout / outcry'; repeated from the narrator's word, now on Philistine lips.
theNominativearticle (attributive, with μεγάλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying κραυγή)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great / loud'; the second-attributive position (ἡ κραυγὴ ἡ μεγάλη) is a Hebraizing construction echoing the φωνῇ μεγάλῃ of v. 5.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (modifying κραυγή)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; the near demonstrative points to the shout just heard.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
παρεμβολῇcampDativedative of place (location of the shout)→ sphere or referenceπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; here the Israelite camp, identified by the Philistines as 'the camp of the Hebrews.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕβραίωνHebrewsGenitivegenitive of possession ('camp of the Hebrews')→ relational specificationΕβραῖος: 'Hebrew'; renders עִבְרִי; a declinable gentilic, hence 'n' with genitive case; 'the Hebrews' is the term outsiders use for Israel (cf. Gen 39:14; Exod 1:16; 1 Kgdms 14:11), often with a derogatory edge; the Philistines do not yet know it is YHWH's ark.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔγνωσανthey knewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (Philistines learn the cause)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize / learn'; renders יָדַע; the ingressive aorist 'they realized'; their knowledge of the ark's presence produces dread, not reverence.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (introducing object clause)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of their knowledge.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of ἥκει (anarthrous)→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: the ark; the Philistines correctly identify the object as κιβωτὸς κυρίου.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; remarkably, the pagan Philistines name the ark by YHWH's title — orthodox recognition on foreign lips.
ἥκειhas comePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωverb of the ὅτι-clause (resultative present)→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'have come / be present'; the present has perfective force ('has arrived and is here'); the same verb (ἥκασιν) recurs in the Philistines' terror in v. 7.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; the repeated term (×2 in this verse) keeps the focus on the ark's location among the Israelite forces.
7

καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ εἶπον οὗτοι οἱ θεοὶ ἥκασιν πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν οὐαὶ ἡμῖν ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς κύριε σήμερον ὅτι οὐ γέγονεν τοιαύτη ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην

And the Philistines were afraid, and they said, 'These gods have come to them into the camp. Woe to us! Deliver us, O Lord, today, for nothing like this has happened yesterday or the day before.'

Direct speech: the Philistines' terror and lamentκαὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι
The Philistine fear erupts in a polytheistic misreading — οὗτοι οἱ θεοὶ ἥκασιν ('these gods have come') — and a cry of woe (οὐαὶ ἡμῖν). The vocative κύριε is striking: pagans invoking deliverance, ironically using the term that renders the divine name. The idiom ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ('yesterday and the third day') is the standard LXX Hebraism for 'previously / ever before.'
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθησανwere afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (Philistine terror)→ verbal action or stateφοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; deponent (aor. pass. form, active sense); renders יָרֵא; the ingressive aorist marks the onset of dread upon learning of the ark.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλοι: meaning 'Philistines'; it serves as subject.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπον): introduces the Philistines' panicked lament.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (subject, with οἱ θεοί)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'this / these'; the masculine plural points to the ark's deity/deities; the Philistine polytheism construes the one ark as the coming of 'these gods.'
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὶgodsNominativesubject of ἥκασιν→ participant prominenceθεός (pl. θεοί): 'gods'; the plural θεοί renders the Hebrew אֱלֹהִים understood polytheistically by the pagans; the Philistines, lacking monotheist categories, hear of Israel's God as a host of mighty deities; the irony is sharpened by their next sentence, where they switch to the singular vocative κύριε.
ἥκασινhave comePerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἥκωmain verb of direct speech→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'have come / be present'; the plural agrees with οἱ θεοί; the dreadful realization that divine power has entered the enemy camp; echoes ἥκει of v. 6 with intensified fear.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Israelites)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the Israelites, to whose camp the 'gods' have come; the Philistines see divine reinforcement on the enemy side.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; the Israelite encampment, now feared as the abode of mighty gods.
οὐαὶwoeinterjection (lament)→ clausal contributionοὐαί: 'woe / alas'; an indeclinable interjection of distress; renders אוֹי; the Philistines' cry of dread anticipates verbally the name Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ ('Ichabod') in v. 21.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of disadvantage (with οὐαί)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): the dative of disadvantage with οὐαί, 'woe to us.'
ἐξελοῦdeliverAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (imperative of petition)→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξαιρέομαι): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders נָצַל (Hiphil) 'deliver'; the middle imperative ἐξελοῦ ('rescue!') is a cry for deliverance — but it is unclear, and deliberately ironic, to whom the pagan Philistines address it.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
κύριεO LordVocativevocative of address→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): the LXX's rendering of the divine name appears here as a vocative on pagan lips; the Philistines, panicking, address a 'Lord' for deliverance — whether their own gods or, ironically, the very YHWH whose ark they dread, the text lets the irony stand: the word that names Israel's God is spoken in terror by his enemies.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the urgency of the present crisis.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the ground of their fear: nothing like this has ever happened.
οὐnotnegation (with γέγονεν)→ participant referenceοὐ: the negative particle; 'there has not happened.'
γέγονενhas happenedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of the causal clause→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (perf. γέγονεν): 'has come about / happened'; the perfect surveys all past experience: never has such a thing occurred; the subject is the implied 'such a thing' (τοιαύτη).
τοιαύτηsuch a thingNominativesubject / predicate (correlative pronoun)→ participant referenceτοιοῦτος (fem. τοιαύτη): 'such / of this kind'; the feminine agrees with an implied noun (e.g., a 'such' situation/cry); 'nothing of this kind has occurred before.'
ἐχθὲςyesterdaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἐχθές: 'yesterday'; part of the idiom ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ('yesterday and the third [day]'), the LXX's standard Hebraism for אֶתְמוֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם, meaning 'previously / in time past / ever.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρίτηνthe third day beforeAccusativeaccusative of time (in the idiom 'yesterday and the day before')→ object specificationτρίτος (fem. acc. τρίτην): 'third'; with ἐχθές forms the temporal Hebraism 'yesterday and the third day' = 'previously / heretofore'; the feminine accusative implies ἡμέραν ('day').
8

οὐαὶ ἡμῖν τίς ἐξελεῖται ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν θεῶν τῶν στερεῶν τούτων οὗτοι οἱ θεοὶ οἱ πατάξαντες τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

'Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague and in the wilderness.'

Continuation of direct speech: the Philistines recall the Exodus plaguesοὐαὶ ἡμῖν
The renewed οὐαὶ ἡμῖν and the rhetorical τίς ἐξελεῖται ἡμᾶς express the Philistines' despair. They identify Israel's God(s) as οἱ πατάξαντες τὴν Αἴγυπτον ('who struck Egypt'), recalling the plague-tradition; the LXX 'ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ' compresses the Exodus and wilderness traditions into the Philistines' folk-memory of YHWH's terrible deeds.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
οὐαὶwoeinterjection (lament, repeated)→ clausal contributionοὐαί: 'woe / alas'; the repeated cry (cf. v. 7) intensifies the panic.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of disadvantage (with οὐαί)→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (with οὐαί).
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐξελεῖται)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who'; the rhetorical question expects the answer 'no one' — the Philistines despair of rescue from the hand of Israel's God.
ἐξελεῖταιwill deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateἐξαιρέω (fut. mid. ἐξελεῖται): 'rescue / deliver'; the same verb as the imperative ἐξελοῦ of v. 7, now in a hopeless question: 'who will deliver us?'; echoes Israelite deliverance-language ironically applied by the enemy.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand/power of') is the same Hebraism the elders used in v. 3 (ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν) — the deliverance language now mirrored from the enemy's side.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρός: 'hand of the gods')→ relational specificationθεός (gen. pl. θεῶν): 'gods'; the polytheistic plural again (cf. v. 7); the Philistines fear the 'hand' (power) of these deities.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with στερεῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στερεῶνmighty / hardGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying θεῶν)→ relational specificationστερεός: 'firm / hard / strong / mighty'; renders אַדִּיר ('majestic / mighty') in the parallel; the 'mighty gods' epithet reflects the Philistines' terror at a power they cannot resist; in second-attributive position (τῶν θεῶν τῶν στερεῶν), a Hebraizing word order.
τούτωνtheseGenitivedemonstrative (modifying θεῶν)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the near demonstrative ties the dreaded gods to the ark just arrived.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (subject of the identifying clause)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; introduces the identifying statement 'these are the gods who…', appositional explanation of who is feared.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὶgodsNominativepredicate nominative ('these are the gods')→ participant prominenceθεός (pl. θεοί): 'gods'; the predicate of the identifying clause, further specified by the attributive participle.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle πατάξαντες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαντεςwho struckAor Act Part Nom Pl Masc · πατάσσωattributive participle (modifying θεοί)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the articular participle οἱ πατάξαντες ('the ones who struck') recalls the plagues on Egypt; the Philistines' folk-memory of the Exodus events functions as confession of YHWH's might.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativedirect object of πατάξαντες→ object specificationΑἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; a declinable proper noun (hence 'n', accusative); the object of the plague-striking; the Philistines invoke the great precedent of divine judgment on a nation.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
πάσῃeveryDativeadjective (modifying πληγῇ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ ('with every plague') sums up the full plague-cycle of Exodus 7–12.
πληγῇplagueDativedative of instrument ('with plague')→ sphere or referenceπληγή: 'blow / plague / stroke'; the same term used for the Egyptian plagues (cf. Exod 11:1) and for the slaughter of Israel in vv. 10, 17; here the plagues by which 'the gods' struck Egypt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place ('in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the phrase 'and in the wilderness' extends the Philistines' memory of YHWH's mighty acts beyond the plagues to the wilderness wanderings — a compressed Exodus-tradition voiced by pagans.
9

κραταιοῦσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς ἄνδρας ἀλλόφυλοι μήποτε δουλεύσητε τοῖς Εβραίοις καθὼς ἐδούλευσαν ἡμῖν καὶ ἔσεσθε εἰς ἄνδρας καὶ πολεμήσατε αὐτούς

'Be strong and become men, O Philistines, lest you serve the Hebrews as they have served us; be men, and fight them!'

Direct speech: the Philistine self-exhortation to courageκραταιοῦσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς ἄνδρας
Fear gives way to resolve: a string of imperatives (κραταιοῦσθε, γίνεσθε, πολεμήσατε) rallies the Philistines to fight rather than be enslaved. The idiom γίνεσθε εἰς ἄνδρας ('become men') renders the Hebrew הָיוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים, a call to manly courage; the fear of enslavement (μήποτε δουλεύσητε) reverses the master-slave relationship and steels their resolve.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
κραταιοῦσθεbe strongPres Mid/Pass Impv 2 Pl · κραταιόωmain verb (exhortatory imperative)→ verbal action or stateκραταιόω: 'strengthen / make strong'; mid./pass. 'be strong / take courage'; renders חָזַק (Hithpael) 'strengthen oneself'; the call to courage that turns Philistine panic into combat-readiness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γίνεσθεbecomePres Mid/Pass Impv 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (exhortatory imperative)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'become / be'; γίνεσθε εἰς ἄνδρας ('become as men') is a Hebraism (הָיוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים) summoning to manly valor; the εἰς + accusative for the predicate is the LXX's calque of the Hebrew לְ of product/result.
εἰςinto / aspreposition + accusative (predicate, Hebraism for לְ)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with γίνομαι, a Hebraizing predicate construction ('become as / into') rendering the Hebrew לְ of result.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativepredicate accusative (εἰς ἄνδρας: 'as men')→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'men'; here 'men' in the sense of valiant warriors; 'become men' = 'play the man / fight bravely.'
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesVocativevocative of address→ direct addressἀλλόφυλος: here vocative, the self-address of the Philistines rallying one another.
μήποτεlestnegative purpose conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήποτε: 'lest / so that … not'; introduces the feared outcome (enslavement) to be avoided; takes the subjunctive δουλεύσητε.
δουλεύσητεyou serveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · δουλεύωverb of the negative-purpose clause→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: 'be a slave / serve'; renders עָבַד; the fear of becoming the Hebrews' slaves — a reversal of the present power-relation — is the spur to fight.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕβραίοιςHebrewsDativedative complement of δουλεύσητε ('serve the Hebrews')→ sphere or referenceΕβραῖος: 'Hebrew'; declinable gentilic (dative plural); δουλεύω governs the dative; 'the Hebrews' again the outsiders' term for Israel.
καθὼςascomparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; introduces the comparison: as the Hebrews have served (been subject to) the Philistines.
ἐδούλευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωverb of comparative clause→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: 'serve / be enslaved'; refers to the prior Philistine domination of Israel; the Philistines fear the tables turning.
ἡμῖνusDativedative complement of ἐδούλευσαν ('served us')→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of ἐδούλευσαν ('served us').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσεσθεyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἔσεσθε): 'you will be'; here with imperatival force ('be / become'), repeating εἰς ἄνδρας; the future-as-command is a Hebraism for the volitive.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate, Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (predicate, Hebraism).
ἄνδραςmenAccusativepredicate accusative (repeated 'as men')→ object specificationἀνήρ: the emphatic repetition of εἰς ἄνδρας ('be men') frames the exhortation with martial resolve.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πολεμήσατεfightAor Act Impv 2 Pl · πολεμέωmain verb (climactic imperative)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; renders לָחַם (Niphal); the climactic command of the self-exhortation; cognate with πόλεμος; its execution opens v. 10 (ἐπολέμησαν).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object (the Israelites)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; πολεμέω with the accusative ('fight them'), the Israelites as the object of attack.
10

καὶ ἐπολέμησαν αὐτούς καὶ πταίει ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ καὶ ἔφυγεν ἕκαστος εἰς σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγένετο πληγὴ μεγάλη σφόδρα καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐξ Ισραηλ τριάκοντα χιλιάδες ταγμάτων

And they fought them, and the man of Israel was defeated, and each fled to his tent; and there was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot-soldiers.

Battle narration: the second and decisive rout of Israelκαὶ ἐπολέμησαν αὐτούς
The Philistine resolve issues in action (ἐπολέμησαν); Israel is routed a second time — now far worse than the first defeat (four thousand, v. 2). The historic present πταίει heightens the disaster, and the figure of thirty thousand πεζῶν/ταγμάτων ('foot-soldiers / ranks') measures the magnitude of the catastrophe that the ark's presence was supposed to prevent.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολέμησανthey foughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πολεμέωmain verb (the Philistines attack)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; the fulfillment of the imperative πολεμήσατε (v. 9); the Philistines now make good their resolve.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object (the Israelites)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the Israelites).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πταίειis defeatedPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πταίωmain verb (historic present: Israel routed)→ verbal action or stateπταίω: 'stumble / be defeated'; the historic present (against the surrounding aorists) freezes the climactic moment of the rout; the collective ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ echoes v. 2, marking this as the greater repetition of the first defeat.
ἀνὴρthe man / each manNominativesubject (collective singular)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: collective 'the man of Israel' = the Israelite army; cf. v. 2.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἀνήρ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of ἀνήρ (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφυγενfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (the flight)→ verbal action or stateφεύγω: 'flee'; renders נוּס; the singular agrees with the distributive ἕκαστος ('each man fled'); the disorderly flight to the tents marks the total collapse of the Israelite line.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive, emphasizing the comprehensive scattering of the army.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
σκήνωμαtentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination of flight)→ object specificationσκήνωμα: 'tent / dwelling'; renders אֹהֶל; 'each fled to his tent' (εἰς σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ) is the standard idiom for the dispersal of a defeated army to their homes.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his tent')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his tent').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοthere wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: 'there was a slaughter')→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'come about / happen'; ἐγένετο πληγὴ μεγάλη ('there was a great slaughter') is an existential construction summing up the carnage.
πληγὴslaughter / blowNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ participant prominenceπληγή: 'blow / slaughter / plague'; renders מַכָּה / מַגֵּפָה; here the great slaughter of Israel; the same word the Philistines used of the Egyptian plagues (v. 8) — now the blow falls on Israel.
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying πληγή)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; with σφόδρα ('exceedingly') it stresses the magnitude of the disaster.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying μεγάλη)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; intensifies the great slaughter to superlative force.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσανfellAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb (casualty report)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: 'fall'; renders נָפַל; the idiom 'there fell of Israel …' (ἔπεσαν ἐξ Ισραηλ) is standard for battle-casualties.
ἐξof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): partitive 'of / from among'; 'there fell from Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐξ (partitive, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ἐξ (partitive, indeclinable).
τριάκονταthirtynumeral (indeclinable cardinal, modifying χιλιάδες)→ measure or countτριάκοντα: 'thirty'; an indeclinable numeral but functioning as a quantifier (kind 'n'); thirty thousand — a sevenfold-plus increase over the four thousand of v. 2, measuring the deepened catastrophe.
χιλιάδεςthousandNominativesubject of ἔπεσαν (the number slain)→ participant prominenceχιλιάς: 'a thousand'; the staggering figure of thirty thousand fallen exposes the failure of the ark-as-talisman strategy.
ταγμάτωνof foot-soldiers / ranksGenitivedescriptive/partitive genitive (with χιλιάδες)→ relational specificationτάγμα: 'that which is arranged / division / rank of soldiers'; here for the Hebrew רַגְלִי ('foot-soldier / infantryman'); 'thirty thousand of the [foot-]ranks' specifies that the fallen were infantry.
11

καὶ κιβωτὸς θεοῦ ἐλήμφθη καὶ ἀμφότεροι υἱοὶ Ηλι ἀπέθανον Οφνι καὶ Φινεες

And the ark of God was captured, and both the sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas.

Climactic disaster: the capture of the ark and death of Eli's sonsκαὶ κιβωτὸς θεοῦ ἐλήμφθη
The two clauses state the chapter's central catastrophe with stark brevity: the ark was captured (ἐλήμφθη — the passive of the very verb the elders used, λάβωμεν, v. 3) and both sons of Eli died, fulfilling the oracle of 1 Kgdms 2:34 ('in one day they shall both die'). The terseness of the report intensifies the horror; everything from here follows from these two facts.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of ἐλήμφθη (anarthrous)→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: the ark; here designated κιβωτὸς θεοῦ ('ark of God'); the subject of the chapter's pivotal verb of capture.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the designation 'ark of God' (rather than 'ark of the LORD') here may underline the theological enormity: the seat of the divine presence itself falls into pagan hands.
ἐλήμφθηwas capturedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the capture of the ark)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. pass. ἐλήμφθη): 'take / seize / capture'; renders לָקַח (Niphal); the passive is the dark counterpart of the elders' hortatory λάβωμεν ('let us take', v. 3): they sought to take the ark for victory; instead the ark is taken from them; the verb recurs at vv. 17, 19 and (as infinitive) v. 22, forming the chapter's tragic refrain.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativeappositional adjective ('both the sons')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; the fulfillment of the prophecy of 1 Kgdms 2:34 that Hophni and Phinehas would die ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ('on a single day'); echoes ἀμφότεροι of v. 4, framing their accompaniment of the ark and their death together.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀπέθανον (anarthrous here)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the priest-sons of Eli; their death is both personal tragedy and the judicial removal of the corrupt priestly line.
Ηλιof Eligenitival modifier of υἱοί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the father whose death follows in v. 18.
ἀπέθανονdiedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the death of the sons)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the blunt aorist seals the fate of Eli's house; the death of the sons fulfills the judgment of chs. 2–3 and precipitates the deaths of Eli (v. 18) and Phinehas' wife (v. 19).
ΟφνιHophniapposition to υἱοί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΟφνι: Hophni; named again (cf. v. 4) at the moment of his death.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΦινεεςPhinehasapposition to υἱοί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΦινεες: Phinehas; his death here sets up the death of his pregnant wife and the naming of Ichabod (vv. 19–22).
12

καὶ ἔδραμεν ἀνὴρ Ιεμιναῖος ἐκ τῆς παρατάξεως καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Σηλωμ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ διερρηγότα καὶ γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ

And a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh on that day, and his garments were torn, and there was dust upon his head.

Scene-shift: the messenger runs to Shilohκαὶ ἔδραμεν ἀνὴρ Ιεμιναῖος
The scene moves from battlefield to Shiloh as a Benjamite runner brings the news. The signs of mourning — torn garments (τὰ ἱμάτια … διερρηγότα) and dust on the head (γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς) — visually announce catastrophe before a word is spoken, preparing the reader (and Eli) for the disaster.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδραμενranAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τρέχωmain verb (the messenger's run)→ verbal action or stateτρέχω (aor. ἔδραμεν): 'run'; renders רוּץ; the urgency of running conveys the gravity of the news he carries from the front to Shiloh.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; here a single individual (not collective), the messenger.
ΙεμιναῖοςBenjamiteNominativeattributive adjective / gentilic (modifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceΙεμιναῖος: 'Benjamite / of Benjamin'; a declinable gentilic (hence 'n', nominative) derived from בֶּן־יְמִינִי ('son of the right hand / Benjamite'); identifies the runner's tribe; a later Jewish tradition identifies him with Saul, but the text leaves him anonymous.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξεωςbattle lineGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source: 'from the battle')→ relational specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-line / battle array'; cognate with παρατάσσω (v. 2); the runner comes 'from the battle line,' i.e., straight from the fighting; the same term recurs in v. 16.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival at Shiloh)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the runner reaches Shiloh, the sanctuary-town where Eli waits.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣηλωμShilohobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣηλωμ: Shiloh; the destination of the messenger and the seat of Eli's priesthood.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('on that day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') stresses the same-day arrival of the news — the disaster reaches Shiloh without delay.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the day of the defeat and the ark's capture.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (circumstantial)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsNominativesubject of the circumstantial (periphrastic) clause→ participant prominenceἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; the tearing of garments (קָרַע בְּגָדִים) is the conventional sign of grief and calamity (cf. Gen 37:34; 2 Kgdms 1:2); the runner's appearance proclaims disaster nonverbally.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his garments')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his garments').
διερρηγόταtornPerf Act Part Nom Pl Neut · διαρρήγνυμιpredicate participle (periphrastic: 'were torn')→ verbal action or stateδιαρρήγνυμι (perf. act. part. διερρηγότα): 'tear / rend asunder'; renders קָרַע; the perfect participle (with implied 'were') describes the resultant, abiding state — the garments remain rent; the active perfect participle here has the sense 'having been torn / in a torn condition.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (circumstantial)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γῆdust / earthNominativesubject of the verbless clause ('dust was on his head')→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / soil / dust'; here 'dust / earth upon the head' (אֲדָמָה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ), the second conventional mourning-sign (cf. 2 Kgdms 1:2; 15:32); ironically the same word that 'resounded' with Israel's confident shout in v. 5 now sits as dust of grief on the messenger's head.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position: 'upon the head')→ relational specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; dust on the head is the visible token of mourning that announces the calamity before the messenger speaks.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his head')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his head').
13

καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἰδοὺ Ηλι ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τοῦ δίφρου παρὰ τὴν πύλην σκοπεύων τὴν ὁδόν ὅτι ἦν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ ἐξεστηκυῖα περὶ τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀπαγγεῖλαι καὶ ἀνεβόησεν ἡ πόλις

And he came, and behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the gate, watching the road, for his heart was trembling concerning the ark of God. And the man entered into the city to bring the report, and the city cried out.

Scene-setting: Eli watching by the gateκαὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἰδοὺ Ηλι ἐκάθητο
The presentative ἰδού freezes the scene on Eli, blind and anxious, seated by the gate watching the road, his heart 'beside itself' (ἐξεστηκυῖα) for the ark. The narrator's causal ὅτι-clause discloses his inner dread. The runner enters the city to report, and the whole city's outcry (ἀνεβόησεν ἡ πόλις) reaches Eli before the messenger does (v. 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενhe cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the messenger arrives)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the runner arrives at the city; the verb resumes his journey from v. 12.
καὶandconjunction (introducing presentative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a vivid presentative that shifts the narrative camera onto Eli; functionally indeclinable (a frozen imperative of ὁράω).
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the aged priest-judge now becomes the narrative focus.
ἐκάθητοwas sittingImpf Mid/Dep Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (Eli's posture)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι: 'sit / be seated'; the imperfect ἐκάθητο depicts Eli's continuous waiting-posture; the same root as καθημένου (v. 4, of YHWH enthroned) — a poignant contrast between the enthroned LORD and the helpless old man on his seat.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δίφρουseatGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position: 'on the seat')→ relational specificationδίφρος: 'seat / chair / stool'; renders כִּסֵּא; Eli's seat by the gate; from this seat he will fall backward and break his neck (v. 18), so the δίφρος becomes the instrument of his death.
παρὰbypreposition + accusative (position beside)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / by'; Eli sits 'by the gate,' the natural place to receive news from the road.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύληνgateAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (position)→ object specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders שַׁעַר; the city gate, place of news and judgment; Eli will fall ἐχόμενος τῆς πύλης ('beside the gate', v. 18).
σκοπεύωνwatchingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · σκοπεύωcircumstantial participle (modifying Eli)→ verbal action or stateσκοπεύω: 'watch / look out / keep watch'; though blind (v. 15), Eli 'watches' the road in anxious expectation — a poignant detail, his attention fixed where his eyes cannot see.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδόνroadAccusativedirect object of σκοπεύων→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; the road by which news from the battle would come; the object of Eli's anxious watch.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (narrator's explanation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the narrator's disclosure of Eli's inner state.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic construction (with ἐξεστηκυῖα)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'was'; here the auxiliary of a periphrastic pluperfect/imperfect with the participle ἐξεστηκυῖα ('was trembling / was beside itself').
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἦν … ἐξεστηκυῖα→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; the seat of thought and emotion; Eli's heart 'trembles' for the ark, his deepest concern; the same noun recurs in v. 20 of Phinehas' wife whose heart 'does not perceive.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his heart')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his heart').
ἐξεστηκυῖαtrembling / beside itselfPerf Act Part Nom Sg Fem · ἐξίστημιpredicate participle (periphrastic with ἦν)→ verbal action or stateἐξίστημι (perf. act. part. ἐξεστηκυῖα): 'be out of place / be beside oneself / be in trembling alarm'; literally 'standing out (of itself)'; the perfect participle agrees with καρδία; Eli's heart is in a settled state of dread 'concerning the ark of God' — his anxiety is for the ark above even his sons.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / about'; the object of Eli's dread is the ark, not first his sons — a characterization that foregrounds the ark's centrality.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of περί→ relational specificationκιβωτός (gen. κιβωτοῦ): the ark; the object of Eli's trembling concern; the Leitwort sustains the chapter's focus.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the ark of God' — the designation that keeps the theological stakes (the divine presence) at the center.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (the messenger)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the runner of v. 12, here entering the city to deliver his report.
εἰσῆλθενenteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the messenger enters the city)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the messenger enters the city to make his announcement; the same verb recurs in v. 14.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; Shiloh; the place where the news will erupt into a general outcry.
ἀπαγγεῖλαιto reportAor Act Inf · ἀπαγγέλλωinfinitive of purpose (with εἰσῆλθεν)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / bring word'; renders נָגַד (Hiphil); the infinitive of purpose ('to report'); the verb recurs in v. 14 (ἀπήγγειλεν) when the report reaches Eli.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβόησενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβοάωmain verb (the city's outcry)→ verbal action or stateἀναβοάω: 'cry out / shout aloud'; the compound ἀνα- stresses the rising cry; renders זָעַק; the whole city's lament — the inverse of the exultant war-shout of v. 5 — reaches Eli's ears in v. 14.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject of ἀνεβόησεν→ participant prominenceπόλις: 'city'; the whole population of Shiloh erupts in lament at the news.
14

καὶ ἤκουσεν Ηλι τὴν φωνὴν τῆς βοῆς καὶ εἶπεν τίς ἡ βοὴ τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος σπεύσας εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Ηλι

And Eli heard the sound of the outcry and said, 'What is this sound of clamor?' And the man hurried and came in and reported to Eli.

Eli hears the outcry and questions itκαὶ ἤκουσεν Ηλι
Blind Eli perceives the disaster first through hearing — τὴν φωνὴν τῆς βοῆς ('the sound of the outcry'). His question (τίς ἡ βοὴ … ταύτης) echoes the Philistines' earlier question about the great cry (v. 6). The messenger hurries (σπεύσας) to bring the word directly to Eli, setting up the dialogue of vv. 16–17.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (Eli hears)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; the blind Eli perceives the catastrophe by ear; takes the accusative τὴν φωνήν here (vs. the genitive in v. 6).
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the subject of perception and question.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνὴνsoundAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσεν→ object specificationφωνή: 'sound / voice'; τὴν φωνὴν τῆς βοῆς ('the sound of the outcry') is a Hebraizing genitive chain (קוֹל הַצְּעָקָה); the same noun φωνή recurs in Eli's question.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοῆςoutcryGenitivegenitive of content (with φωνήν: 'sound of the outcry')→ relational specificationβοή: 'cry / outcry / shout'; renders צְעָקָה; the city's lament-cry; the term recurs as the subject of Eli's question (ἡ βοή).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Eli's question.
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the verbless question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'what'; Eli's question 'what is this sound?' parallels the Philistines' question in v. 6 (τίς ἡ κραυγή), binding the two reactions to a loud cry.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοὴoutcryNominativesubject of the verbless question→ participant prominenceβοή: 'outcry'; repeated from the narrator's report, now in Eli's mouth.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςclamor / soundGenitivegenitive of content (with βοή)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'sound / voice'; the genitive chain ἡ βοὴ τῆς φωνῆς ('the outcry of the sound') is a Hebraizing redundancy heightening the urgency of Eli's question.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying φωνῆς)→ relational specificationοὗτος (fem. gen. ταύτης): 'this'; points to the very clamor Eli has just heard.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (the messenger)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the messenger, who now hastens to Eli.
σπεύσαςhurryingAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · σπεύδωcircumstantial participle (modifying ἄνθρωπος)→ verbal action or stateσπεύδω: 'hasten / hurry'; renders מָהַר; the aorist participle σπεύσας ('hurrying / in haste') conveys the urgency; the same participle recurs in v. 16.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the messenger comes to Eli)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; the messenger comes in to Eli to deliver the report.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενreportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (the report delivered)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; fulfills the purpose-infinitive ἀπαγγεῖλαι of v. 13; the actual content of the report comes in v. 17.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ηλι, marking the dative)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (dat. τῷ): the article here governs the indeclinable Ηλι, supplying the dative case ('to Eli').
ΗλιEliindirect object (indeclinable, case marked by τῷ)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the indeclinable name takes its case from the preceding article τῷ ('to Eli').
15

καὶ Ηλι υἱὸς ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπανέστησαν καὶ οὐκ ἔβλεπεν καὶ εἶπεν Ηλὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς περιεστηκόσιν αὐτῷ τίς ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἤχους τούτου

Now Eli was ninety years old, and his eyes had failed, and he could not see; and Eli said to the men standing around him, 'What is the sound of this din?'

Parenthetical characterization of Eli's age and blindnessκαὶ Ηλι υἱὸς ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν
A narratorial aside on Eli's great age (the LXX here gives ninety; v. 18 implies the full reckoning) and blindness (his eyes 'had risen up' = grown dim) prepares for his helplessness at the news. His repeated question (τίς ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἤχους) underlines that he, like the Philistines, must interpret a sound he cannot see the cause of.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶnownarrative conjunction (introducing parenthetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΗλιElisubject of the verbless age-clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; subject of the parenthetical note on his age and condition.
υἱὸςson / (years) oldNominativepredicate noun (idiom: 'a son of … years' = … years old)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the idiom υἱὸς … ἐτῶν ('a son of … years') is a Hebraism (בֶּן … שָׁנָה) for stating age; 'Eli was ninety years old.'
ἐνενήκονταninetynumeral (indeclinable cardinal, modifying ἐτῶν)→ measure or countἐνενήκοντα: 'ninety'; indeclinable numeral functioning as a quantifier (kind 'n'); the LXX figure for Eli's age here; cf. the Hebrew/other witnesses that read ninety-eight; v. 18 notes he had judged Israel twenty years (MT: forty).
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (with υἱός: 'of years')→ relational specificationἔτος (gen. pl. ἐτῶν): 'year'; the genitive of measure in the age-idiom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὶeyesNominativesubject of ἐπανέστησαν→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; Eli's eyes are the subject of his failing sight (cf. 1 Kgdms 3:2).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his eyes')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his eyes').
ἐπανέστησανhad failed / risen upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπανίστημιmain verb (Eli's eyes grow dim)→ verbal action or stateἐπανίστημι: lit. 'rise up against / stand up'; here a Greek rendering of the Hebrew קָמָה ('stood / set' of the eyes), an idiom for eyes that have grown fixed and dim with age; the unusual verb describes Eli's blindness (cf. 1 Kgdms 3:2).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἔβλεπεν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the negative particle; 'he could not see.'
ἔβλεπενcould seeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · βλέπωmain verb (Eli's blindness)→ verbal action or stateβλέπω: 'see / look'; the imperfect οὐκ ἔβλεπεν ('he could not see') describes Eli's settled blindness; his dependence on hearing and on the men around him underlines his helplessness before the catastrophe.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Eli's renewed question to the bystanders.
ΗλὶElisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the subject of the question; the accent here (Ηλὶ) reflects the Rahlfs text's pointing.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativeindirect object of εἶπεν ('said to the men')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. pl. ἀνδράσιν): 'men'; the attendants standing around the blind old priest, on whom he depends for information.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with participle περιεστηκόσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περιεστηκόσινstanding aroundPerf Act Part Dat Pl Masc · περιίστημιattributive participle (modifying ἀνδράσιν)→ verbal action or stateπεριίστημι (perf. act. part. περιεστηκόσιν): 'stand around / surround'; the perfect participle denotes those positioned about Eli; his attendants who relay the world to the blind man.
αὐτῷhimDativedative complement of περιεστηκόσιν ('standing around him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of περιεστηκόσιν ('standing around him').
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'what'; Eli's third question about a sound (cf. vv. 6, 14), each by one who cannot see its cause.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνὴsoundNominativesubject of the verbless question→ participant prominenceφωνή: 'sound / voice'; the genitive chain ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἤχους ('the sound of this din') is again a Hebraizing redundancy.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἤχουςdin / noiseGenitivegenitive of content (with φωνή)→ relational specificationἦχος: 'noise / din / roar'; cognate with ἤχησεν (v. 5, of the resounding earth); the same root that marked Israel's confident shout now names the confused din of disaster Eli strains to interpret.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying ἤχους)→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. τούτου): 'this'; points to the present clamor.
16

καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ σπεύσας προσῆλθεν πρὸς Ηλι καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἥκων ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς κἀγὼ πέφευγα ἐκ τῆς παρατάξεως σήμερον καὶ εἶπεν τί τὸ γεγονὸς ῥῆμα τέκνον

And the man hurried and came to Eli and said to him, 'I am the one who has come from the camp, and I have fled from the battle line today.' And he said, 'What is the thing that has happened, my child?'

Dialogue: the messenger presents himself; Eli asks for the newsκαὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ σπεύσας προσῆλθεν
The messenger identifies himself (ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἥκων) as an eyewitness fugitive from the battle. Eli's gentle question τί τὸ γεγονὸς ῥῆμα τέκνον ('what is the thing that has happened, my child?') — the address τέκνον is tender — invites the full report that follows in v. 17, the report that will kill him.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (the messenger)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the messenger, now approaching Eli directly.
σπεύσαςhurryingAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · σπεύδωcircumstantial participle (modifying ἀνήρ)→ verbal action or stateσπεύδω: 'hasten'; the repeated σπεύσας (cf. v. 14) keeps the urgency of the news in view.
προσῆλθενcame toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb (the approach to Eli)→ verbal action or stateπροσέρχομαι: 'come / draw near to'; the messenger approaches Eli to deliver his report face to face.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιEliobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: Eli; the recipient of the report.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the messenger's self-identification.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object ('said to him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object ('said to him').
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; the messenger stresses his role as eyewitness — 'I am the one who has come.'
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate ὁ ἥκων)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the identifying clause ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἥκων ('I am the one who has come').
theNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥκωνthe one who has comePres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἥκωsubstantival participle (predicate of εἰμι)→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'have come / be present'; the substantival participle ὁ ἥκων ('the one who has come') identifies the messenger as the fresh arrival from the front; the verb's earlier uses (vv. 6, 7) of the ark's 'coming' now describe the bearer of news of its loss.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; the army camp from which the messenger has come; the term that ran through the first half of the chapter.
κἀγὼand INominativecrasis (καί + ἐγώ): emphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ ('and I'); the repeated first-person stresses the messenger's personal escape and eyewitness authority.
πέφευγαhave fledPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (the messenger's flight)→ verbal action or stateφεύγω (perf. πέφευγα): 'flee'; the perfect 'I have fled / am in flight' marks him as a fugitive survivor; cognate with the general flight ἔφυγεν of v. 10 and the report πέφευγεν in v. 17.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξεωςbattle lineGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source)→ relational specificationπαράταξις: 'battle-line'; the messenger has fled 'from the battle line' (cf. v. 12); the term frames his eyewitness credentials.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the same-day immediacy of the disaster (cf. vv. 3, 7).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's question)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Eli's question for the news.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'what'; Eli now asks not about a sound but about the event itself (τὸ γεγονὸς ῥῆμα).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with γεγονὸς ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεγονὸςthat has happenedPerf Act Part Nom Sg Neut · γίνομαιattributive participle (modifying ῥῆμα)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (perf. act. part. γεγονός): 'happen / come about'; τὸ γεγονὸς ῥῆμα ('the thing/word that has happened') is a Hebraism (הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר הָיָה), where ῥῆμα means both 'word' and 'matter / event'; Eli asks 'what is the matter that has occurred?'
ῥῆμαthing / matterNominativesubject of the verbless question→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר, which spans both 'word' and 'event'; here 'the matter that has happened'; the Hebraic double sense lets the 'word' Eli requests be the very event that befalls him.
τέκνονchildVocativevocative of address→ direct addressτέκνον: 'child'; renders בְּנִי ('my son'); the tender vocative address from the aged priest to the young messenger heightens the pathos of the scene just before the fatal news is delivered.
17

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη τὸ παιδάριον καὶ εἶπεν πέφευγεν ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ἐκ προσώπου ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐγένετο πληγὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἀμφότεροι οἱ υἱοί σου τεθνήκασιν καὶ ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλήμφθη

And the young man answered and said, 'The man of Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there was a great slaughter among the people, and both your sons are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.'

Direct speech: the messenger's fourfold report of disasterκαὶ ἀπεκρίθη τὸ παιδάριον
The report rises in a fourfold climax of escalating catastrophe: rout, great slaughter, the death of both Eli's sons, and — the climactic blow placed last — the capture of the ark (ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλήμφθη). The repetition of ἐλήμφθη (v. 11) and ἀμφότεροι … τεθνήκασιν makes the report the verbal hinge on which Eli's death turns (v. 18): it is the word of the ark, not of his sons, that fells him.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; deponent (aor. pass. form, active sense); renders עָנָה; introduces the messenger's reply with the Hebraizing 'answered and said.'
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονyoung man / ladNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young man / lad / servant'; diminutive of παῖς; renders נַעַר; the messenger, here designated 'the young man' (matching Eli's address τέκνον); the same word names the infant Ichabod in v. 21.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the second verb of the Hebraizing 'answered and said' pair, introducing the report.
πέφευγενhas fledPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb of direct speech (first report)→ verbal action or stateφεύγω (perf. πέφευγεν): 'flee'; the perfect reports the rout as an accomplished and abiding fact; the collective ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ ('the man of Israel') as in vv. 2, 10.
ἀνὴρthe manNominativesubject (collective singular)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: collective 'the man of Israel' = the army.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival modifier of ἀνήρ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier of ἀνήρ (indeclinable).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουpresence / faceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (Hebraism: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἐκ προσώπου ('from before / from the face of') is a Hebraism (מִפְּנֵי) for 'fleeing before' the enemy; renders the rout vividly.
ἀλλοφύλωνthe PhilistinesGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου: 'before the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλοφύλων: meaning 'the Philistines'; it serves as genitive (with προσώπου: 'before the Philistines').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second report)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοthere wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: 'there was a slaughter')→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'come about'; ἐγένετο πληγὴ μεγάλη repeats verbatim the narrator's summary of v. 10, now in the messenger's mouth.
πληγὴslaughterNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ participant prominenceπληγή: 'blow / slaughter'; the great slaughter among the people; the term that bound the Egyptian plagues (v. 8) and the rout (v. 10) into one chain of divine blows.
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying πληγή)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; the magnitude of the casualties among the people.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of place ('among the people')→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; the people / army of Israel, decimated in the rout.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third report)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativeappositional adjective ('both your sons')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; the report of the death of both sons echoes vv. 4, 11 and the oracle of 1 Kgdms 2:34; the personal blow ('your sons') strikes Eli directly.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοίsonsNominativesubject of τεθνήκασιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; Hophni and Phinehas; their death is reported to their father.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your sons')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the second-person pronoun makes the report intimately personal to Eli.
τεθνήκασινare deadPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · θνῄσκωmain verb (third report)→ verbal action or stateθνῄσκω (perf. τεθνήκασιν): 'die / be dead'; the perfect emphasizes the abiding state ('your sons are dead'); cf. the aorist ἀπέθανον in the narrator's account (v. 11).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (fourth, climactic report)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of ἐλήμφθη→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: the ark; placed last in the report as the climactic disaster — the loss that, beyond the deaths, will kill Eli.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the ark of God' — the climactic and theologically weightiest item of the report.
ἐλήμφθηhas been capturedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (climactic report)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. pass. ἐλήμφθη): 'be taken / captured'; the verbatim repetition of v. 11, now reaching Eli's ears; it is at this word — not the death of his sons — that Eli falls and dies (v. 18), revealing that the ark's loss is the deepest wound.
18

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐμνήσθη τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ τοῦ δίφρου ὀπισθίως ἐχόμενος τῆς πύλης καὶ συνετρίβη ὁ νῶτος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέθανεν ὅτι πρεσβύτης ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ βαρύς καὶ αὐτὸς ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ εἴκοσι ἔτη

And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell backward from his seat beside the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for the man was old and heavy; and he himself had judged Israel twenty years.

Climax of the Eli-narrative: his death at the word of the arkκαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐμνήσθη τῆς κιβωτοῦ
The temporal frame makes explicit what triggers Eli's death: the mention of the ark (ὡς ἐμνήσθη τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ). He falls backward (ὀπισθίως) from the δίφρος of v. 13, breaks his neck (συνετρίβη ὁ νῶτος), and dies. The causal ὅτι-clause (he was old and heavy) and the closing regnal notice (he judged Israel twenty years) round off his life and the judgment on his house.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιimpersonal main verb (temporal frame)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'come to pass'; καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … introduces the circumstantial-temporal clause locating Eli's death at the mention of the ark.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; temporal, pinpointing the moment that triggers Eli's collapse.
ἐμνήσθηhe made mention / it was mentionedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιverb of temporal clause→ verbal action or stateμιμνῄσκομαι (aor. pass. ἐμνήσθη): 'remember / make mention of'; deponent with genitive object (τῆς κιβωτοῦ); 'when he made mention of / when the ark was named' — it is the naming of the ark's capture that kills Eli; the genitive object construction is classical.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of ἐμνήσθη→ relational specificationκιβωτός (gen. κιβωτοῦ): the ark; the genitive object of μιμνῄσκομαι; the very mention of the ark's fate is fatal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the ark of God' once more, the object of Eli's lifelong charge and final concern.
καὶandapodotic καί (after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, introducing the main clause after the ὡς-clause (Hebraism).
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (Eli's fall)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: 'fall'; the same verb as the casualty 'falling' of v. 10 (ἔπεσαν); Eli falls from his seat as the soldiers fell in the field — his death joins the day's slaughter.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δίφρουseatGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source of the fall)→ relational specificationδίφρος: 'seat / chair'; the same seat on which Eli sat watching in v. 13; now the place from which he falls to his death — the δίφρος frames the beginning and end of the Eli-scene.
ὀπισθίωςbackwardadverb of manner (direction of the fall)→ clausal contributionὀπισθίως: 'backward / to the rear'; a rare adverb rendering אֲחֹרַנִּית; the backward fall from a high seat causes the fatal break of the neck.
ἐχόμενοςbeside / next toPres Mid/Dep Part Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωparticiple in idiom of proximity (with genitive)→ verbal action or stateἔχω (mid. part. ἐχόμενος): lit. 'holding (to)'; the middle participle ἐχόμενος + genitive is an idiom for 'next to / adjoining / beside' (cf. τὰ ἐχόμενα 'the things nearby'); 'beside the gate,' specifying the place of Eli's fall.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύληςgateGenitivegenitive with ἐχόμενος ('beside the gate')→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; the same gate by which Eli kept watch (v. 13); he dies at the very place of his vigil.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνετρίβηwas brokenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωmain verb (the fatal injury)→ verbal action or stateσυντρίβω (aor. pass. συνετρίβη): 'shatter / crush / break'; renders שָׁבַר (Niphal); 'his neck was broken'; the violent verb conveys the fatal injury.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νῶτοςneck / backNominativesubject of συνετρίβη→ participant prominenceνῶτος: 'back / neck'; here for the Hebrew מַפְרֶקֶת ('neck'); the breaking of the neck/back from the backward fall is the immediate cause of death.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his neck')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his neck').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (Eli's death)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the same verb as the death of his sons (v. 11); on a single day the whole house of Eli falls, fulfilling the judgment of chs. 2–3.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the explanation of why the fall was fatal.
πρεσβύτηςold manNominativepredicate noun ('the man was old')→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτης: 'old man / aged'; renders זָקֵן; in a verbless clause ('for the man was old and heavy'); Eli's advanced age made the fall lethal.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of the verbless causal clause→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; 'the man (Eli) was old and heavy'; the plain designation underscores his frailty.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βαρύςheavyNominativepredicate adjective (coordinate with πρεσβύτης)→ participant prominenceβαρύς: 'heavy / weighty'; renders כָּבֵד; Eli's heaviness (he was a corpulent old man, cf. his sin of honoring his sons above God and growing fat on the offerings, 1 Kgdms 2:29) compounds the fatal fall; the same root כבד underlies the כָּבוֹד ('glory') that has departed (v. 22) — a grim wordplay in the Hebrew between Eli's 'heaviness' and the lost 'glory.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction (regnal/judgeship notice)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'he himself'; introduces the closing summary of Eli's tenure as judge.
ἔκρινενjudgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (judgeship summary)→ verbal action or stateκρίνω: 'judge / govern'; renders שָׁפַט; the formulaic notice 'he judged Israel … years' marks Eli as one of the judges; the LXX here gives twenty years (so some witnesses; MT reads forty).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ, marking the accusative object)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (acc. τόν): the article governs the indeclinable Ισραηλ, supplying the accusative ('Israel' as object of ἔκρινεν).
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable, case marked by τόν)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the object of Eli's judgeship; the article τόν supplies the accusative case.
εἴκοσιtwentynumeral (indeclinable, modifying ἔτη)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable numeral functioning as a quantifier (kind 'n'); the length of Eli's judgeship in the LXX (MT: forty).
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for twenty years')→ object specificationἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent measures the duration of Eli's tenure; with his death the era of his house ends.
19

καὶ νύμφη αὐτοῦ γυνὴ Φινεες συνειληφυῖα τοῦ τεκεῖν καὶ ἤκουσεν τὴν ἀγγελίαν ὅτι ἐλήμφθη ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὅτι τέθνηκεν ὁ πενθερὸς αὐτῆς καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς καὶ ὤκλασεν καὶ ἔτεκεν ὅτι ἐπεστράφησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν ὠδῖνες αὐτῆς

And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, about to give birth; and she heard the report that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, and she crouched down and gave birth, for her labor-pains had come suddenly upon her.

New sub-scene: the death of Phinehas' wifeκαὶ νύμφη αὐτοῦ γυνὴ Φινεες
The narrative turns to a third death precipitated by the news. Phinehas' pregnant wife (συνειληφυῖα τοῦ τεκεῖν) hears the threefold report — ark captured, father-in-law dead, husband dead — and goes into sudden labor (ἐπεστράφησαν … ὠδῖνες). Her crouching (ὤκλασεν) and bearing become the setting for the chapter's theological climax in vv. 21–22.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new sub-scene)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νύμφηdaughter-in-lawNominativesubject→ participant prominenceνύμφη: 'bride / daughter-in-law'; renders כַּלָּה; here Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas; the relationship binds her to all three of the day's deaths.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship ('his daughter-in-law', i.e., Eli's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('his daughter-in-law', i.e., Eli's).
γυνὴwifeNominativeappositive to νύμφη ('the wife of Phinehas')→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the appositional 'wife of Phinehas' specifies her further; she is unnamed, identified only by her relationships.
Φινεεςof Phinehasgenitival modifier of γυνή (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΦινεες: Phinehas; the slain son of Eli (v. 11); his widow is the subject of this scene.
συνειληφυῖαhaving conceived / pregnantPerf Act Part Nom Sg Fem · συλλαμβάνωpredicate participle (describing her condition)→ verbal action or stateσυλλαμβάνω (perf. act. part. συνειληφυῖα): 'conceive / become pregnant'; renders הָרָה; the perfect participle describes her state of pregnancy; with τοῦ τεκεῖν, 'pregnant, about to give birth' — at full term.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive τεκεῖν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (gen. τοῦ): the genitive article forms the articular infinitive τοῦ τεκεῖν ('to give birth / for bearing'), expressing imminence ('about to bear').
τεκεῖνto give birthAor Act Inf · τίκτωarticular infinitive (with τοῦ: imminence / purpose)→ verbal action or stateτίκτω (aor. inf. τεκεῖν): 'bear / give birth'; the articular infinitive τοῦ τεκεῖν indicates she was at the point of delivery; the verb recurs in ἔτεκεν below and in τέτοκας (v. 20).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (she hears the report)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; takes the accusative τὴν ἀγγελίαν ('the report'); the news that triggers her labor and death, as it did Eli's.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγγελίανreport / messageAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσεν→ object specificationἀγγελία: 'message / report / tidings'; renders שְׁמוּעָה; the news of the threefold disaster; cognate with ἄγγελος ('messenger').
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of the report)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the first item of the report (the ark's capture).
ἐλήμφθηhad been capturedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. pass. ἐλήμφθη): 'be taken / captured'; the third occurrence of this key passive (cf. vv. 11, 17); the ark's capture heads the list of what she hears, before even the deaths of her husband and father-in-law.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of ἐλήμφθη→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: the ark; its capture is the first and theologically primary item of the report she hears.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the ark of God'; the recurring designation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (second item of the report)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the second item (the deaths of father-in-law and husband).
τέθνηκενwas deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of the second ὅτι-clause→ verbal action or stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the singular verb agrees with the nearer subject (ὁ πενθερός) but governs both her father-in-law and her husband; the perfect stresses their abiding death-state (cf. τεθνήκασιν, v. 17).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πενθερὸςfather-in-lawNominativesubject of τέθνηκεν→ participant prominenceπενθερός: 'father-in-law'; renders חָם; Eli, her husband's father; his death (v. 18) is the second item of the report.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('her father-in-law')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('her father-in-law').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρhusbandNominativesecond subject of τέθνηκεν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: here 'husband' (the common sense of ἀνήρ with a possessive); Phinehas, her husband; his death (v. 11) is the third item of the report.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('her husband')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('her husband').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤκλασενshe crouched downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀκλάζωmain verb (she bows down in labor)→ verbal action or stateὀκλάζω: 'crouch / kneel / sink down'; renders כָּרַע; describes the birthing posture (crouching) into which the sudden onset of labor forces her; the same verb is used of bowing/collapsing under shock or weakness.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενgave birthAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (the birth)→ verbal action or stateτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; the actual delivery, brought on prematurely by the shock; the child she bears will be named Ichabod (v. 21).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; explains the sudden birth: her labor-pains came upon her.
ἐπεστράφησανcame / turned suddenlyAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιστρέφωverb of the causal clause→ verbal action or stateἐπιστρέφω (aor. pass. ἐπεστράφησαν): 'turn / come round upon'; here of the labor-pains that 'turned upon / overcame' her; renders the Hebrew נֶהֶפְכוּ ('were turned'); the pains seize her abruptly under the weight of the news.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (ἐπ᾿ before vowel): 'upon'; the pains come 'upon her.'
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾿.
ὠδῖνεςlabor-painsNominativesubject of ἐπεστράφησαν→ participant prominenceὠδίν: 'birth-pang / labor-pain'; renders צִיר / חֵבֶל; the throes of childbirth that, in her shocked and grieving state, prove fatal.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession ('her labor-pains')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('her labor-pains').
20

καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ αὐτῆς ἀποθνῄσκει καὶ εἶπον αὐτῇ αἱ γυναῖκες αἱ παρεστηκυῖαι αὐτῇ μὴ φοβοῦ ὅτι υἱὸν τέτοκας καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη καὶ οὐκ ἐνόησεν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς

And in her time she was dying, and the women standing by her said to her, 'Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.' But she did not answer, and her heart did not perceive.

The death of Phinehas' wife; the women's consolation unheededκαὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ αὐτῆς ἀποθνῄσκει
The historic present ἀποθνῄσκει ('she is dying') renders her death vividly. The attendant women try the customary consolation of a male birth (μὴ φοβοῦ … υἱὸν τέτοκας), but she is past comfort: she does not answer and 'her heart did not perceive' — her grief over the lost ark and dead kin eclipses even the birth of a son, preparing the naming of v. 21.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time ('in her time')→ sphere or referenceκαιρός: 'time / appointed time'; ἐν τῷ καιρῷ αὐτῆς ('at her time') refers to the time of her death (or of her travail); renders the Hebrew בְּעֵת ('at the time').
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession ('her time')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('her time').
ἀποθνῄσκειshe was dyingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (historic present: her death)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the historic present 'she dies / is dying' renders the moment vividly; the same verb that closed the lives of Eli's sons (v. 11) and Eli (v. 18) now ends hers — the fourth death of the day.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπον): introduces the attending women's words of consolation.
αὐτῇto herDativeindirect object ('said to her')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object ('said to her').
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwomenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceγυνή (pl. γυναῖκες): 'women'; the midwives / attendants assisting at the birth, who offer the conventional reassurance.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with participle παρεστηκυῖαι)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεστηκυῖαιstanding byPerf Act Part Nom Pl Fem · παρίστημιattributive participle (modifying γυναῖκες)→ verbal action or stateπαρίστημι (perf. act. part. παρεστηκυῖαι): 'stand beside / be present'; the perfect participle of the women attending her in labor; parallel to the men 'standing around' Eli (περιεστηκόσιν, v. 15) — both deaths are surrounded by helpless attendants.
αὐτῇherDativedative complement of παρεστηκυῖαι ('standing by her')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of παρεστηκυῖαι ('standing by her').
μὴnotnegation (with prohibitive imperative)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the negative for commands; with φοβοῦ forms the prohibition 'do not be afraid.'
φοβοῦbe afraidPres Mid/Pass Impv 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibitive imperative)→ verbal action or stateφοβέομαι: 'fear'; μὴ φοβοῦ ('do not fear') is the stock formula of reassurance; here the midwives' comfort at a successful male birth — comfort that comes too late and unheeded.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground of the reassurance)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; the ground of consolation: she has borne a son.
υἱὸνa sonAccusativedirect object of τέτοκας→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the birth of a son was cause for joy and the securing of the family line — but here the mother is beyond comfort, and the son's very name will be 'no glory.'
τέτοκαςyou have bornePerf Act Indic 2 Sg · τίκτωverb of the causal clause→ verbal action or stateτίκτω (perf. τέτοκας): 'bear / give birth'; the perfect 'you have borne (and now have) a son'; the midwives announce the joyful fact, but it cannot reach her.
καὶbutadversative καί (contrastive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adversative ('but'), contrasting the women's comfort with her unresponsiveness.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἀπεκρίθη)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ (οὐκ): negative particle; 'she did not answer.'
ἀπεκρίθηshe answeredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (her non-response)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer'; οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ('she did not answer') marks her withdrawal into death; beyond the reach of comfort.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἐνόησεν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ (οὐκ): negative particle; 'her heart did not perceive.'
ἐνόησενperceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · νοέωmain verb (her heart's failure to attend)→ verbal action or stateνοέω: 'perceive / understand / take to heart'; οὐκ ἐνόησεν ἡ καρδία αὐτῆς ('her heart did not perceive') means she paid no heed to the good news of the son; her whole being is fixed on the catastrophe, as the naming in v. 21 shows.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἐνόησεν→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart'; the seat of perception and will; her unperceiving heart contrasts with Eli's trembling heart (v. 13) — both hearts overwhelmed by the loss of the ark.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession ('her heart')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('her heart').
21

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ παιδάριον Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ ὑπὲρ τῆς κιβωτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ πενθεροῦ αὐτῆς καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς

And she called the child Ouai-barchaboth ('Woe! the glory is gone' / Ichabod), because of the ark of God and because of her father-in-law and because of her husband.

The naming of the child: theological climax beginsκαὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ παιδάριον Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ
The dying mother names the child Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ — the LXX's transliteration-plus-gloss of Hebrew אִי־כָבוֹד ('Ichabod', 'no glory / where is the glory?'), here rendered as 'Woe!' (οὐαί) + a transliteration. The triple ὑπέρ ('because of') names the three losses behind the name: the ark of God (first and foremost), her father-in-law, and her husband, exactly the order of her hearing in v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe called / namedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (the naming)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω: 'call / name'; renders קָרָא (שֵׁם); the naming of a child in the OT is a theologically loaded act; here the dying mother's last act encodes the day's catastrophe into the child's name.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'little child / young boy'; here the newborn son; the same word denoted the messenger ('young man') in v. 17 — the diminutive now its literal sense.
ΟὐαὶWoe (Ichabod)name (first element of the transliterated/glossed name)→ participant identificationοὐαί: 'woe / alas'; here the first element of the child's name, rendering the אִי of אִי־כָבוֹד ('Ichabod'); the LXX hears in the Hebrew אִי an exclamation of woe and renders it with οὐαί (cf. vv. 7, 8); thus the name itself is a cry of lament.
βαρχαβωθbarchaboth (the glory)name (second element, transliterated)→ clausal contributionβαρχαβωθ: transliteration of the Hebrew (כָבוֹד / כָּבֵד element), the second part of אִי־כָבוֹד ('Ichabod'); together Οὐαὶ βαρχαβωθ encodes 'Woe — the glory!'; the name proclaims the departure of the כָּבוֹד (δόξα, glory) glossed in v. 22; an indeclinable transliterated form.
ὑπὲρbecause ofpreposition + genitive (cause)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: here causal, 'on account of / because of'; the triple ὑπέρ enumerates the three griefs behind the name, with the ark named first.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ (first cause)→ relational specificationκιβωτός (gen. κιβωτοῦ): the ark; named first among the three losses — the capture of the ark is the primary grief, more than husband or father-in-law.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the ark of God'; the loss of the divine presence is the theological heart of the name Ichabod.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπὲρbecause ofpreposition + genitive (second cause)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: causal, 'because of'; the second of the three griefs.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πενθεροῦfather-in-lawGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ (second cause)→ relational specificationπενθερός: 'father-in-law'; Eli; the second of the three losses behind the name.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('her father-in-law')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('her father-in-law').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπὲρbecause ofpreposition + genitive (third cause)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: causal, 'because of'; the third grief.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὸςhusbandGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ (third cause)→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. ἀνδρός): 'husband'; Phinehas; the third and last of the losses named; notably her own impending death is not among the named causes — the ark stands above all.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('her husband')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('her husband').
22

καὶ εἶπαν ἀπῴκισται δόξα Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ λημφθῆναι τὴν κιβωτὸν κυρίου

And they said, 'The glory has been carried away from Israel, in the capturing of the ark of the LORD.'

Theological epitaph: the departure of the gloryκαὶ εἶπαν ἀπῴκισται δόξα Ισραηλ
The chapter closes with its theological epitaph, voiced collectively (εἶπαν): ἀπῴκισται δόξα Ισραηλ ('the glory has been deported / carried into exile from Israel'). The verb ἀποικίζω (of forced exile) and the noun δόξα (= כָּבוֹד, the glory of YHWH's presence at the ark) make explicit the meaning of 'Ichabod.' The articular infinitive ἐν τῷ λημφθῆναι ('in the being-taken') ties the departure of the glory directly to the capture of the ark — the chapter's central event and its final word, κυρίου.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): the impersonal plural 'they said' presents the epitaph as a communal pronouncement / proverb arising from the event, more than the dying woman's words alone.
ἀπῴκισταιhas been carried away / exiledPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωmain verb of direct speech (the epitaph)→ verbal action or stateἀποικίζω (perf. pass. ἀπῴκισται): 'send away to a colony / deport / carry into exile'; renders גָּלָה ('go into exile'); the perfect 'has been carried away (and is gone)' depicts the glory as deported like an exile; the choice of an exile-verb is theologically loaded — the divine presence has gone into 'captivity' with the ark.
δόξαgloryNominativesubject of ἀπῴκισται→ participant prominenceδόξα: 'glory'; the LXX's standard rendering of כָּבוֹד; here the glory of YHWH localized at the ark — his manifest presence among his people; its departure is the meaning of the name Ichabod (v. 21) and the theological core of the whole chapter; the same δόξα/כבד root underlies Eli's being 'heavy' (βαρύς, v. 18), binding the priest's downfall to the loss of the glory.
Ισραηλfrom Israelgenitival/separative modifier ('glory of/from Israel', indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; construed with δόξα as 'the glory of Israel' which 'has been exiled' — i.e., carried away from Israel; the uninflected name leaves both the possessive and separative senses in view.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + dative (with articular infinitive: temporal/causal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the articular infinitive (ἐν τῷ + inf.) a temporal-causal construction, 'in / when / by the being-taken'; a common LXX Hebraism for בְּ + infinitive construct.
τῷtheDativearticle (with articular infinitive λημφθῆναι)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (dat. τῷ): the dative article forming the articular infinitive ἐν τῷ λημφθῆναι ('in the being-taken / when … was captured').
λημφθῆναιto be captured / the being-takenAor Pass Inf · λαμβάνωarticular infinitive (temporal-causal: 'when the ark was taken')→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω (aor. pass. inf. λημφθῆναι): 'be taken / captured'; the final occurrence of the chapter's key passive (cf. ἐλήμφθη, vv. 11, 17, 19); the articular infinitive ties the departure of the glory directly and solely to the capture of the ark — the event that defines the whole chapter.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativeaccusative subject of the passive infinitive ('the ark being taken')→ object specificationκιβωτός (acc. κιβωτόν): the ark; the accusative subject of the passive infinitive λημφθῆναι; the Leitwort makes its final appearance, framing the chapter from the elders' λάβωμεν τὴν κιβωτόν (v. 3) to this closing λημφθῆναι τὴν κιβωτόν.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship ('ark of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the chapter's final word names the ark as the LORD's — the glory that has departed is his glory; the closing 'ark of the LORD' (rather than 'of God') seals the chapter on the note of YHWH's own presence carried into the enemy's land, setting up the ark-narrative of chs. 5–6.