The Death of Eli

1 Samuel 4

12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and m came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and n dirt on his head. 13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on o a seat 1 by the wayside watching, for his heart 2 trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What does the sound of this tumult mean?" And the man came quickly and told Eli. 15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and p his eyes were so 3 dim that he could not see. 16 Then the man said to Eli, "I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line." And he said, q "What happened, my son?" 17 So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured." 18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; 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 herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death r the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she 4 regard it. 21 Then she named the child s Ichabod, 5 6 saying, t "The glory has departed from Israel!" because 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, for the ark of God has been captured."

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:34
    Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them.
    Psalms 78:64
    Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.
  2. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:2
    On the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
  3. 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 evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
    2 Samuel 13:19
    Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
    2 Samuel 15:32
    Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God - there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
    Nehemiah 9:1
    Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
    Job 2:12
    And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:9
    So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD.
    1 Samuel 4:18
    Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:2
    And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see.
    1 Kings 14:4
    And Jeroboam's wife did so; she arose and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were glazed by reason of his age.
  6. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:4
    Then David said to him, "How did the matter go? Please tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 35:16 - 19
    Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:3
    Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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