Death of Eli

12 That same day a Benjamite(A) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(B) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(C) 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(D) 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,(E) and the ark of God has been captured.”(F)

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](G) Israel forty years.(H)

19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

21 She named the boy Ichabod,[b](I) saying, “The Glory(J) has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory(K) has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged
  2. 1 Samuel 4:21 Ichabod means no glory.

The Death of Eli

12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, (A)with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, (B)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 (C)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, (D)“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 (E)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, (F)“Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child (G)Ichabod, saying, (H)“The glory has departed[a] from Israel!” because (I)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, (J)for the ark of God has been captured.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 4:21 Or gone into exile; also verse 22