<p class="bodytext">But the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>; he struck down 50,070<n id="2" /> of the men. The people grieved because the <sc>Lordsc> had struck the people with a hard blow.

The messenger replied, &#8220;Israel has fled from<n id="1" /> the Philistines! The army has suffered a great defeat! Your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead! The ark of God has been captured!&#8221;p>

Then Saul said, &#8220;Scatter out among the army and say to them, &#8216;Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don&#8217;t sin against the <sc>Lordsc> by eating the blood.&#8221; So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there.<n id="1" />