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1 Samuel 4:16

Eli

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.

“I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.

17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18 As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.
KJV
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
WEB
The man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” He said, “How did the matter go, my son?”
ASV
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, How went the matter, my son?
DARBY
And the man said to Eli, I am he that came out of the battle, and I have fled to-day out of the battle. And he said, What has taken place, my son?
BLB
And the man said to Eli, “I [am] he who came from the battle, and I have fled from the battle line today.” And he said, “What has been the matter, my son?”
ÅB
Da nå mannen sa til Eli: Det er jeg som er kommet fra slagmarken, jeg flyktet fra slagmarken idag, så spurte han: Hvordan er det gått, min sønn?
OTB
Mannen sa til Eli: “Jeg har kommet fra slaglinjen—jeg flyktet fra den i dag.” Eli spurte: “Hva skjedde, min sønn?”
B1930
Da nu mannen sa til Eli: Det er jeg som er kommet fra slagmarken, jeg flyktet fra slagmarken idag, så spurte han: Hvorledes er det gått, min sønn?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 1:4

    “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

    Read in context

  • Joshua 7:19

    So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 3:6

    Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.”

    Read in context