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Canon EOS 350D, f5, 1/30 sec

"At that time Samuel was a prophet of Israel. The Israelites went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines then drew up in battle formation. They attacked Israel and after a fierce struggle, Israel was defeated, leaving about four thousand men dead on the battlefield. When the troops retreated to their camp, the elders of Israel asked, 'Why has Yahweh allowed us to be defeated by the Philistines? Let us take the ark of God from Shiloh and bring it here so that Yahweh may be with us and save us from our enemies.' So the people sent messengers to Shiloh to take the ark of Yahweh who is seated on the cherubim. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the ark.

"As soon as the ark of Yahweh entered the camp, the Israelites began to cheer so loudly that the earth resounded. The Philistines heard the shouting and asked, 'What does this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' And they were told that the ark of Yahweh had been brought to the camp.

"The Philistines were overcome with fear. They exclaimed, 'A god has come into the camp. Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can save us from the power of these mighty gods! These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues--and in the desrt. Take courage and conduct yourselves liek men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews the way they have been slaves to you. Be manly and fight.'

"So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated. Everyone fled to his home. It was a disastrous defeat; thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel were killed. The ark of God was captured and the two sons of Eli, Hohpni and Phinehas, were slain."

1 SAMUEL 4:1-11

"Help me, Lord, to trust in Your love
and not in man-made formulas for success."

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