Keraia
1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:18

The Death of Eli · 1 Samuel 4:12–22
Read 1 Samuel 4

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
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.
Latin
Cumque ille nominasset arcam Dei, cecidit de sella retrorsum juxta ostium, et fractis cervicibus mortuus est. Senex enim erat vir et grandævus: et ipse judicavit Israël quadraginta annis.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

1 Samuel 4:18

  • Eli fell backward: This was possibly from shock or a heart attack when he heard the message. His deadly fall represents his family's loss of the priesthood and the end of the wrongdoing his sons started (1 Samuel 2:12–17).

  • Eli had judged Israel: Being a priest and a judge was possible at the same time (compare Exodus 18:13–26; Deuteronomy 17:8–13). Samuel took over as Israel’s judge and provided the leadership Eli did not (see 1 Samuel 7:12–17).

  • The phrase forty years connects Eli’s career to the timeline and themes of the book of Judges (compare Judges 3:11; 5:31; 8:28; 13:1).

1 Samuel 4:1–7:2

The crisis with the ark of the covenant showed Israel needed Samuel's leadership. It also fulfilled prophecies about Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14).

Theme notes and profiles

Eli Samuel The Philistines The Collapse of Culture

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant Ashkelon Eli Ephraim (Place) History of Israel Phinehas Samuel (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second Saul Shiloh

Topics

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Taken to Battle Corpulency: Eli Eli: Death of Eli: His Solicitude for the Ark Eli: Judge of Israel Extraordinary Judges: Names of Eli Gates: The Open Square of, a Place for Idlers Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Eli for Forty Years Judge: Samson: Eli Led Israel Judgments: Eli's House Parents: Involved in Children's Wickedness Patriotism: Eli Priest: (The Function he Served Was Superior to That of Other Priests): Judicial Shiloh: City of Ephraim, North of Beth-El: Eli Dies At The High Priest: Often Exercised Chief Civil Power