Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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 Israel forty years. New Living Translation When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years. English Standard Version As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward 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. Berean Standard Bible 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. King James Bible 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. New King James Version Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli 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. New American Standard Bible When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. And so he judged Israel for forty years. NASB 1995 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years. NASB 1977 And it came about when he mentioned the ark of God that Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years. Legacy Standard Bible And it happened that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for the man was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years. Amplified Bible When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backwards by the side of the [city] gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years. Christian Standard Bible When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years. Holman Christian Standard Bible When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel 40 years. American Standard Version And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell 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. Contemporary English Version Eli was still sitting on a chair beside the wall of the town gate. And when the man said that the Philistines had taken the sacred chest, Eli fell backwards. He was a very heavy old man, and the fall broke his neck and killed him. He had been a leader of Israel for 40 years. English Revised Version And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation When the messenger mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his chair backwards toward the gate. He broke his neck, and he died. (The man was old and heavy.) He had judged Israel for 40 years. Good News Translation When the man mentioned the Covenant Box, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He was so old and fat that the fall broke his neck, and he died. He had been a leader in Israel for forty years. International Standard Version When he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backwards by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, since he was old and heavy. Eli had judged Israel for 40 years. Majority Standard Bible 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. NET Bible When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years. New Heart English Bible It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that 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. Webster's Bible Translation 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 broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass, at his mentioning the Ark of God, that he falls backward from off the throne, by the side of the gate, and his neck is broken, and he dies, for the man [is] old and heavy, and he has judged Israel [for] forty years. Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass, at his mentioning the ark of God, that he falleth from off the throne backward, by the side of the gate, and his neck is broken, and he dieth, for the man is old and heavy, and he hath judged Israel forty years. Smith's Literal Translation And it will be when he made mention of the ark of God, and he will fall from off the seat backwards by the side of the gate, and his neck will break, and he will die: for he was an old Man and heavy. And he judged Israel forty years. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when he had named the ark of God, he fell from his stool backwards by the door, and broke his neck, and died. For he was an old man, and far advanced in years: and he judged Israel forty years. Catholic Public Domain Version And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from the seat backwards, toward the door, and, having broken his neck, he died. For he was an old man of great age. And he judged Israel for forty years. New American Bible At this mention of the ark of God, Eli fell backward from his chair into the gateway; he died of a broken neck since he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years. New Revised Standard Version When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd it came to pass, when Eli thought of the ark of God, he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And it was that when Eli called to mind the Ark of God, he fell from the seat backward at the side of the gate and his neck was broken, and he died, because the man was old and heavy, and he had judged Israel forty years OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he 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. And he had judged Israel forty years. Brenton Septuagint Translation And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from the seat backward near the gate, and his back was broken, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy: and he judged Israel twenty years. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Death of Eli…17The 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.” 18As 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. 19Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.… Cross References 1 Samuel 2:31-34 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age. / You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. / And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men. ... 1 Samuel 3:11-14 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. / On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his house, from beginning to end. / I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them. ... 1 Kings 2:27 So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli. 1 Kings 4:4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Judges 18:30 The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. Psalm 78:60-64 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men. / He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary. / He surrendered His people to the sword because He was enraged by His heritage. ... Jeremiah 7:12-14 But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. / And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, / therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers. Lamentations 2:1-7 How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger. / Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes. / In fierce anger He has cut off every horn of Israel and withdrawn His right hand at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything around it. ... Ezekiel 9:5-7 And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. / Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. Hosea 4:6-9 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. ... Matthew 21:12-13 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. Mark 11:15-17 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. / Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Luke 19:45-46 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there. / He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Luke 21:5-6 As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, / “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Treasury of Scripture 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 broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. when he made 1 Samuel 4:21,22 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband… Psalm 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Psalm 42:3,10 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? … his neck 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… 1 Samuel 3:12,13 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end… Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And he had. Jump to Previous Ark Backward Brake Broke Died Eli Heavy Israel Judged Mention Neck Seat SideJump to Next Ark Backward Brake Broke Died Eli Heavy Israel Judged Mention Neck Seat Side1 Samuel 4 1. The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer3. They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines 10. They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain 12. Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck 19. Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies As soon as the ark of God was mentioned The Ark of the Covenant was central to Israel's worship and represented God's presence among His people. Its mention here signifies the gravity of the situation, as the Ark had been captured by the Philistines. This event marks a significant turning point in Israel's history, highlighting the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the failure of its leadership. The Ark's capture is a fulfillment of the prophecy against Eli's house (1 Samuel 2:27-36). 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 Persons / Places / Events 1. EliThe high priest and judge of Israel, Eli served for forty years. He was a spiritual leader but failed to restrain his sons, leading to Israel's spiritual decline. 2. The Ark of God A sacred chest that represented God's presence among the Israelites. Its capture by the Philistines was a significant event, symbolizing God's departure from Israel due to their disobedience. 3. The City Gate A place of judgment and gathering in ancient cities. Eli's position here signifies his role as a judge and leader. 4. Philistines A neighboring people and frequent adversaries of Israel. Their capture of the Ark was a moment of national crisis for Israel. 5. Israel The nation chosen by God, often struggling with faithfulness and obedience. This event marks a low point in their spiritual journey. Teaching Points The Consequences of Spiritual NeglectEli's failure to discipline his sons led to national disaster. Spiritual leaders must uphold God's standards to prevent moral and spiritual decline. The Symbolism of the Ark The Ark's capture signifies God's judgment and the seriousness of sin. Believers must cherish God's presence and live in obedience. The Importance of Godly Leadership Eli's account underscores the need for leaders who are both spiritually and morally upright. Leadership carries the responsibility of guiding others in faithfulness. The Reality of God's Judgment Eli's death and the loss of the Ark remind us that God's judgment is real and inevitable for unrepentant sin. Believers are called to live in reverence and obedience. The Hope of Restoration Despite Israel's failure, God's plan for redemption continues. Believers can find hope in God's faithfulness to restore and redeem.(18) He fell from off the seat backward.--The compiler of these books was actuated by no feeling of friendship to the high priest Eli. In composing this history of the events which led to the elevation of Samuel to the judgeship, he simply puts together the materials he possessed of the records of these days, and gives us a vivid picture of the calamities of the rule of Eli. As he never spares his weakness, or attempts to veil his blind nepotism, we feel here the perfect truth of this touching incident which closed the old man's life. He loved the Ark, because of its close connection with his God, better, after all, than his two sons. We have seen already that he could bear the stern announcement of the ruin and degradation of the fortune of his proud house, for which he toiled only too faithfully; he could bear to see another--the boy Samuel--preferred before him, the high priest and judge of Israel; he could endure to hear of the defeat and ruin of the country over which he had so long ruled, and which he loved so well; even the news of the death of his sons he could listen to with sad resignation; but when his ears caught the words "the ark of God is taken," the old man s heart broke, and he died. The chronicler of this period, who certainly never favoured Eli, leaves upon us the impression that with all his faults and imperfections he was still a servant of God. Wordsworth quotes here Psalm 137:5-6 : "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."--The dying words of Archbishop Whitgift were, "Pro ecclesils Dei,"--"For the church of God." And he had judged Israel forty years.--"When I read of Eli the priest, of the sons of Aaron, judging Israel forty years, and of Samuel, certainly a Levite, though not a priest, going circuit as a judge itinerant in Israel (1Samuel 7:16), and of others of the families of Levi appointed by King David to be judges and officers, not only in all the business of the Lord, but also for the outward business of Israel (2Samuel 15:35; 1Chronicles 26:29-32)--when I observe in the Church stories, ever since the world had Christian princes, how ecclesiastical persons have been employed by their sovereigns in their weightiest consultations and affairs of state, I cannot but wonder at those who inveigh against courts, power, jurisdiction, and the temporalities of bishops and other ecclesiastical persons. I speak it not to justify abuses of men, but to justify the lawfulness of the tiling."--Bishop Sanderson, quoted by Wordsworth. Verse 18. - At this last sad news the old man's spirit failed; and though it was his own want of a firm sense of duty that had prepared the way for this sad ruin of his country, yet we cannot but respect his deep attachment and reverent love for the symbol of his faith. The rest he could have borne; but that the ark of God, especially intrusted to his care, was now captive in heathen hands was a calamity that broke his heart. He had judged Israel forty years. The Septuagint reads twenty, but these differences in numbers occur constantly. In either case he would have been well advanced in years before he reached the judgeship, and probably he attained to it slowly; not by one great act, but by the qualities of a statesman, by which he lightened the yoke of the Philistines, and rendered the people for a long time a match for them in war. His character is not that of a hero, but of a wise, patient, and prudent ruler, but one whose good qualities were spoiled at last by his weak partiality for his unworthy sons.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew As soon asוַיְהִ֞י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the ark אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of God הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative was mentioned, כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ ׀ (kə·haz·kî·rōw) Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male Eli fell וַיִּפֹּ֣ל (way·yip·pōl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5307: To fall, lie backward אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית (’ă·ḥō·ran·nîṯ) Adverb Strong's 322: Backwards from מֵֽעַל־ (mê·‘al-) Preposition-m Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his chair הַ֠כִּסֵּא (hak·kis·sê) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne by יַ֣ד (yaḏ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand the city gate, הַשַּׁ֗עַר (haš·ša·‘ar) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate and being כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction old זָקֵ֥ן (zā·qên) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2204: To be or become old and heavy, וְכָבֵ֑ד (wə·ḵā·ḇêḏ) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3515: Heavy he broke וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר (wat·tiš·šā·ḇêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces his neck מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ (map̄·raq·tōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4665: A fracture, joint, of the neck and died. וַיָּמֹ֔ת (way·yā·mōṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Eli וְה֛וּא (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are had judged שָׁפַ֥ט (šā·p̄aṭ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc forty אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 705: Forty years. שָׁנָֽה׃ (šā·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8141: A year Links 1 Samuel 4:18 NIV1 Samuel 4:18 NLT 1 Samuel 4:18 ESV 1 Samuel 4:18 NASB 1 Samuel 4:18 KJV 1 Samuel 4:18 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 4:18 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 4:18 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 4:18 French Bible 1 Samuel 4:18 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 4:18 It happened when he made mention (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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