¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety-eight years old^[a] and his eyes stayed fixed ahead^[b] and he was not able to see. ¹⁶ And the man said to Eli, “I am the one who has come from the battle line! I have fled today from the battle line!” And he said, “What exactly happened,^[c] my son?” ¹⁷ Then the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines. There has been a great defeat among the troops. Also, your two sons have died, Hophni and Phinehas, and the ark of God has been captured.” ¹⁸ Just as he mentioned the ark of God, he^[d] fell from his chair backwards against the side of the gate. He broke his neck and died, because the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.