1 Samuel 4:12-18

21st Century King James Version

¹² And there ran a man of Benjamin from the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head.

¹³ And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out.

¹⁴ And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What meaneth the noise of this tumult?” And the man came in hastily and told Eli.

¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim so that he could not see.

¹⁶ And the man said unto Eli, “I am he that came from the army, and I fled today from the army.” And he said, “What is done there, my son?”

¹⁷ And the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people; and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.”

¹⁸ And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.