The Death of Eli

1 Samuel 4

¹² A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, _h with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. ¹³ When he arrived, _i Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. ¹⁴ When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. ¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety-eight years old _j and his eyes were set so that he could not see. ¹⁶ And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today." And he said, _k "How did it go, my son?" ¹⁷ He who brought the news answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." ¹⁸ As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward _l from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

¹⁹ Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. ²⁰ And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, _m "Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or pay attention. ²¹ And she named the child _n Ichabod, saying, _o "The glory has departed ₁ from Israel!" because _p the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. ²² And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, _p for the ark of God has been captured."

1. Cross References
   Joshua 7:6
   Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Samuel 4:18
   As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
   1 Samuel 1:9
   After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.
   
3. Cross References
   1 Kings 14:4
   Jeroboam's wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age.
   1 Samuel 3:2
   At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
   
4. Cross References
   2 Samuel 1:4
   And David said to him, "How did it go? Tell me." And he answered, "The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.
   
5. Cross References
   1 Samuel 4:13
   When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.
   
6. Cross References
   Genesis 35:17
   And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for you have another son.
   
7. Cross References
   1 Samuel 14:3
   Including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
   
8. Cross References
   Psalms 78:61
   And delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe.
   Psalms 26:8
   O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.
   
9. Cross References
   1 Samuel 4:11
   And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
   
10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 4:21
    And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
    

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.