11. Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu wathathwa; amadodana omabili ka-Eli, oHofini noFinehasi, abulawa.
12. Kwaphuma umuntu wakwaBenjamini empini, wagijima waya eShilo ngalolo suku, izingubo zakhe ziklebhukile, enomhlabathi ekhanda.
13. Ekufikeni kwakhe, bheka, u-Eli wayehlezi esihlalweni sakhe ngaseceleni komgwaqo, ngokuba inhliziyo yakhe yayithuthumela ngomphongolo kaNkulunkulu. Esengenile emzini lowo muntu, wakubika, wakhala umuzi wonke.
14. Lapho u-Eli ezwa umsindo wokukhala, wathi: “Uthini umsindo walokhu kumemeza na?” Lowo muntu washesha waya wamtshela u-Eli.
15. U-Eli wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalombili; amehlo akhe ayequndekile, engenakubona.
16. Lowo muntu wathi ku-Eli: “Nginguye owaphuma empini, ngibaleke empini namuhla.”Wathi: “Bekunjani, ndodana yami, na?”
17. Owaletha umbiko waphendula wathi: “U-Israyeli ubalekile phambi kwamaFilisti; kwakukhona ukubulawa okukhulu phakathi kwabantu; amadodana akho omabili oHofini noFinehasi afile, nomphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe.”
18. Kwathi esaphatha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, wawa nyovane esihlalweni sakhe ngaseceleni kwesango, kwaphuka intamo yakhe, wafa, ngokuba wayengumuntu omdala, esinda. Wayebahlulele abakwa-Israyeli iminyaka engamashumi amane.
19. Umalokazana wakhe, umkaFinehasi, wayekhulelwe esezakubeletha; esezwile umbiko wokuthi umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe nokuthi kufile uyisezala nomyeni wakhe, wakhonkobala, wabeletha, ngokuba wafikelwa yimihelo.
20. Ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe abesifazane ababemi kuye bathi kuye: “Ungesabi, ngokuba ubelethe indodana.” Kepha akaphendulanga, akakunakanga.
21. Wamqamba umntwana ngokuthi u-Ikabodi,* ethi: “Inkazimulo isukile kwa-Israyeli,” ngokuba umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe, nangenxa kayisezala wakhe nomyeni wakhe.