The wisdom and closeness to God of Samuel brought comfort to the people. But on the outskirts, the Philistines were plotting an attack against Israel. After losing the first battle, the elders of Israel remembered the battles fought during the time of Joshua and brought the Ark of God onto the battlefield. God was not for this plan, and Israel lost both the battle and the Ark. When the news came to Eli, the priest, that his sons were dead and the Ark had been lost, he succumbed to his grief and died. But we can still take hope because our God is not weak and worthless, and He cannot be captured by men, as the Philistines will soon learn.