12 And a man of Benjamin runneth out of the ranks, and cometh into Shiloh, on that day, and his long robes 'are' rent, and earth on his head; 13 and he cometh in, and lo, Eli is sitting on the throne by the side of the way, watching, for his heart hath been trembling for the ark of God, and the man hath come in to declare 'it' in the city, and all the city crieth out. 14 And Eli heareth the noise of the cry, and saith, 'What—the noise of this tumult!' And the man hasted, and cometh in, and declareth to Eli. 15 And Eli is a son of ninety and eight years, and his eyes have stood, and he hath not been able to see. 16 And the man saith unto Eli, 'I 'am' he who hath come out of the ranks, and I out of the ranks have fled to-day;' and he saith, 'What hath been the matter, my son?' 17 And he who is bearing tidings answereth and saith, 'Israel hath fled before the Philistines, and also a great slaughter hath been among the people, and also thy two sons have died—Hophni and Phinehas—and the ark of God hath been captured.' 18 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:12-18
Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:12-18
(Read 1 Samuel 4:12-18)
The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tidings of the death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, and who, as he had reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as a father; yet there was a greater concern on his spirit. And when the messenger concluded his story with, "The ark of God is taken," he is struck to the heart, and died immediately. A man may die miserably, yet not die eternally; may come to an untimely end, yet the end be peace.