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1 Samuel 4:18

Death and loss

16 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?

17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is 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.

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 brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

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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
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.
KJV
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 brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
WEB
When he made mention of God’s ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
ASV
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] feel from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
DARBY
And it came to pass, when he mentioned 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 the man was old, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
BLB
And it came to pass, at his mentioning of the ark of God, that he fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died; for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
ÅB
Med det samme han nevnte Guds ark, falt Eli baklengs ned av stolen ved siden av porten, brakk nakkebenet og døde; for mannen var gammel og tung. Han hadde dømt Israel i førti år.
OTB
Da han nevnte Guds ark, falt Eli bakover fra sin stol ved porten. Nakken hans brakk, og han døde, for han var gammel og tung. Han hadde dømt Israel i førti år.
B1930
Med det samme han nevnte Guds ark, falt Eli baklengs ned av stolen ved siden av porten, brakk nakkebenet og døde; for mannen var gammel og tung. Han hadde dømt Israel i firti år.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 4:21–22

    And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

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  • 1 Peter 4:17–18

    For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

    Read in context

  • Psalms 69:9

    For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 4:13

    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.

    Read in context

  • Lamentations 2:15–19

    All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

    Read in context

  • Psalms 42:3

    My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

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  • Psalms 42:10

    As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

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  • 1 Samuel 2:31–32

    Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.

    Read in context