1 Samuel 4:12-18
12 Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn, and dust on his head.
13 When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. And the man came to give a report in the city, and all the city cried out.
14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?” Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli.
15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were fixed and he could not see.
16 The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.” And he said, “How are things, my son?”
17 Then the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great defeat among the people, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas are also dead; and the ark of God has been taken.”
18 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.
The Death of Eli
A messenger from the battle line
A man from Benjamin ran from the battle line to Shiloh. From the battle site in Aphek, to Shiloh is about 30 kilometers (about 20 miles) uphill. A great urgency can be seen in the news he brought, from the fact that the man run such a distance. At that time, Eli was sitting on his seat by the roadside, waiting for a report on the battle. He was concerned about the Ark of God. He was 98 years old and was now blind. The messenger entered the town and reported on the battle: (1) The Israelite army was defeated by the Philistines. (2) There were many casualties among the Israelite forces. (3) Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed in battle. (4) And the Ark of God had been taken. Eli managed to endure the first three reports. The defeat in battle was anticipated, and the death of his two sons had been prophesied. However, the news that he could not bear was that the Ark of the Covenant was taken. The shock was so great that Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died.
Eli’s life
Eli led the people of Israel as a priest and as a judge for 40 years, but his end was truly a tragic one. This tragedy was a result of his failure to admonish his sons. However, even in the midst of this tragic death, there are elements of hope. (1) Eli raised Samuel as his successor. (2) Eli showed deeper concern for the fate of the Ark of God than for the fate of his sons. From these two points, we can say that Eli was a spiritual person and a believer who had partaken in spiritual salvation. While Eli’s death was indeed tragic and sudden, if he had spiritual salvation, there is hope for eternal life. There are lessons we can learn from Eli’s life. Let’s be prepared for the unexpected arrival of death and confirm our own salvation. Also, let’s remember that even if one is spiritually saved, if they choose to live a disobedient life, they may face “judgment as discipline” from the Lord during their earthly life.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, even in the face of an unfortunate death, blessed are those who are spiritually prepared. Today, I thank you Lord, for the hope of eternal life that You have given me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.