11 Moreover, the ark of God was taken; and (A)the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

12 Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with (B)his clothes torn, and [a]dust on his head. 13 When he came, behold, (C)Eli was sitting on his seat [b]by the road keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. And the man came to give a report in the city, and all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?” Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and (D)his eyes were [c]fixed and he could not see. 16 The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.” And he said, “(E)How are things, my son?” 17 Then the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great defeat among the people, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas are also dead; and the ark of God has been taken.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, [d](F)Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for [e]he was old and heavy. And so he judged Israel for forty years.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:12 Lit soil
  2. 1 Samuel 4:13 LXX beside the gate watching the road
  3. 1 Samuel 4:15 I.e., possibly unable to focus
  4. 1 Samuel 4:18 Lit he
  5. 1 Samuel 4:18 Lit the man

11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(A)

Death of Eli

12 That same day a Benjamite(B) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(C) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(D) sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes(E) had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”

Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,(F) and the ark of God has been captured.”(G)

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[a](H) Israel forty years.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged

17 And (A)the king said to the [a]guards who were attending him, “Turn around and put the priests of the Lord to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not [b]inform me.” But the (B)servants of the king were unwilling to reach out with their hands to [c]attack the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You, turn around and [d]attack the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned around and [e]attacked the priests, and (C)he killed on that day eighty-five men (D)who wore the linen ephod. 19 (E)He also struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; he also struck oxen, donkeys, and sheep with the edge of the sword.

20 But (F)one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, (G)escaped and fled [f]to David.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit runners
  2. 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit uncover my ear
  3. 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit fall upon
  4. 1 Samuel 22:18 Lit fall upon
  5. 1 Samuel 22:18 Lit fell upon
  6. 1 Samuel 22:20 Lit after

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling(A) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(B) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(C) 19 He also put to the sword(D) Nob,(E) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(F) named Abiathar,(G) escaped and fled to join David.(H)

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