Daily Reading for Thursday, January 11th, 2024

Reading 1, First Samuel 4:1-11

¹ and, for all Israel, the word of Samuel was as the word of Yahweh; since Eli was very old and his sons persisted in their wicked behaviour towards Yahweh. It happened at that time that the Philistines mustered to make war on Israel and Israel went out to meet them in war, pitching camp near Ebenezer while the Philistines pitched camp at Aphek.

² The Philistines drew up their battle-line against Israel, the fighting was fierce, and Israel was beaten by the Philistines: about four thousand men in their ranks were killed on the field of battle.

³ When the troops returned to camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has Yahweh caused us to be beaten by the Philistines today? Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that, when it goes with us, it may save us from the clutches of our enemies.'

⁴ So the troops sent to Shiloh and brought away the ark of Yahweh Sabaoth enthroned on the winged creatures; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark.

⁵ When the ark of Yahweh arrived in the camp, all Israel raised a great war cry so that the earth resounded.

⁶ When the Philistines heard the noise of the war cry, they said, 'What can this great war cry in the Hebrew camp mean?' And they realised that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.

⁷ At this, the Philistines were afraid; for they said, 'God has come into the camp. Disaster!' they said. 'For nothing like this has ever happened before.

⁸ Disaster! Who will rescue us from the clutches of this mighty God? This was the God who struck down Egypt with every kind of misfortune in the desert.

⁹ But take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been slaves to you. Be men and fight.'

¹⁰ So the Philistines gave battle and Israel was defeated, each man fleeing to his tent. The slaughter was very great: on the Israelite side, thirty thousand foot soldiers fell.

¹¹ The ark of God was captured too, and Hophni and Phinehas the two sons of Eli died.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 44:10-11, 14-15, 25-26

¹⁴ you make us a by-word among nations, other peoples shake their heads over us.

¹⁵ All day long I brood on my disgrace, the shame written clear on my face,

²⁵ For we are bowed down to the dust, and lie prone on the ground.

²⁶ Arise! Come to our help! Ransom us, as your faithful love demands.

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