1 Samuel 4 - 7

When Eli was 98 years old the Philistines attacked Israel at Ebenezer, took the ark of the covenant captive, and his two sons died during the conflict.  When Eli heard that the ark had been captured, he fell over backwards and died.  Eli’s daughter-in-law went into premature labor and named the boy Ichabod before she died, lamenting that the glory of the Lord had departed.

The Philistines had possession of the ark for 7 months, and nothing but bad happened to them, so they placed it on a cart, and two milk cows pulled the cart back to the territory of Judah.  The ark is taken to Kirjath Jearim, where it will stay for 20 years.  Samuel rallies Israel in returning to God, and turning away from false idols, and God brings them victory over the Philistines.