The doors of Shiloh were slammed shut, as people ran around screaming in terror. Hophni raced up to the walls of the cities where his brother, Phineas, was scouting the distance and pointing. :"There Hophni look". Both Israelite soldiers glared in the distance to see a large dust cloud: The Philistine army. They had already killed 4,000, there was no telling what they could do this time. At the tabernacle both Samuel and Eli were praying near the Ark when the two men came in. A large crowd of soldiers soon gathered, chanting for the Ark to be taken into battle, for surely that would frighten off the uncircumcised Philistines. They soon took the Ark, with Hophni and Phineas carrying it, while the cheering men were sure that they would win. With that they marched out of Shiloh to Aphek. The Philistines fought like tigers, terrified of the Ark. Their archers cut down hundreds of Israelites every minute, and then their chariots charged in to finish off the wounded. A group of 300 attacked the Ark, cutting down Hophni and Phineas. The terrified Israelites ran in panic towards safety to be mowed down, while others hid and died. They all ran back to their camp. One wounded soldier ran back to Shiloh. On the walls Eli was sleeping and Samuel was scouting and saw the soldier. The soldier came up, panting "Eli,Eli"! The man tried to call. "What news soldier, tell me everything quickly"! "Sir, it was a disaster. 30,000 Israelites and your sons are slain. The Philistines fought hard, we ran. They have taken the Ark" Eli fell off the wall and died. On the battlefield the bodies were stripped and the Ark taken to the temple of the Philistine god Dagon.