The Death of Eli
1 Samuel 4:12-22 NLT
12 A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief. 13 Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.
14 “What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and blind. 16 He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.
17 “Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured.”
18 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.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. 20 She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
21 She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”), for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. 22 Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 4:12-22 NLT
The Death of Eli
12 A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief.
A universal sign of mourning a national calamity.
When Ai defeated the Israelites
Joshua 7:6 NLT
>6 Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening.
Job’s friends
Job 2:12 NLT
12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief.
This survivor, coming from the battlefield had some very discouraging news for the nation of Israel.
- The news of 4,000 Israelite soldiers killed in one battle and 30,000 Israelite soldiers killed in a second battle came as a devastating blow to the nation of Israel. (1 Samuel 4:2 and 1 Samuel 4:10)
13 Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God.
Brief history of the ark.
Exodus 25:10-16
Instructions from God to Moses, while Moses was on Mount Sinai.
Plans for the Ark of the Covenant (along with plans for the tabernacle, etc.)
10 “Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11 Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13 Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. 15 These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them. 16 When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.
Scripture from the previous lesson.
1 Samuel 4:3 NLT
3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
- The people were acting on their own when they carried the Ark of the Covenant into battle.
Eli was clearly concerned for the safety of the Ark of God.
But
Here again this appears to be a case of religion over a relationship with God.
- It appears (in my opinion) that Eli was more concerned about the Ark of the Covenant than he was about doing what God desired of him. (See 1 Samuel 2:35)
1 Samuel 2:35 NLT
35 “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever.
1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
- It’s important to remember that God looks first for a heart that is truly seeking to follow Him. Our attitudes and motivations are more important to God than our religious practices.
When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.
This was a devastating loss for the Israelites.
- Many times we read stories in the Old Testament where the losers of a battle become slaves of the winners of that battle.
Previously in this chapter:
9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
From the story of David and Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:8-9 NLT
8 Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! 9 If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!
The Israelites could become slaves to the Philistines, having to pay tribute, customs, and tolls. (Ezra 4:13)
14 “What is all the noise about?” Eli asked.
The messenger rushed over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and blind.
- Eli is 98 years old and is both physically and spiritually blind.
1 Samuel 3:2 NLT
2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
1 Samuel 3:13 NLT
13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them.
16 He said to Eli, “I have just come from the battlefield—I was there this very day.”
“What happened, my son?” Eli demanded.
17 “Israel has been defeated by the Philistines,” the messenger replied. “The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed.
And the Ark of God has been captured.”
The ark represented the presence of God in Israel. With the ark in the hands of the enemy, one might think God and His glory were no longer in Israel.
See verse 21 & 22
18 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.
- 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.
Symbolizing Eli’s family fall from the priesthood.
1 Samuel 2:31 NLT
31 The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.
Samuel will replace Eli as Israel’s Judge
God sent judges to lead Israel.
Samuel: priest, prophet, and judge. Each title had a different role.
19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. 20 She died in childbirth,
but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
21 She named the child Ichabod (which means “Where is the glory?”),
“Where is the glory?” or “No glory” (MacArthur)
“There is no glory?” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
for she said, “Israel’s glory is gone.” She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.
22 Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.”
- The capture of the Ark suggested (the mindset of Israel) that not only was the Ark gone, but God Himself and all of His glory were gone.
This is a heathen perception.
Heathen nations believed that gods (small g) could be taken into exile.
Isaiah 46:1-2 NLT
Babylon’s False Gods
46 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,
bow as they are lowered to the ground.
They are being hauled away on ox carts.
The poor beasts stagger under the weight.
2 Both the idols and their owners are bowed down.
The gods cannot protect the people,
and the people cannot protect the gods.
They go off into captivity together.
(We know this is not true for God.)
- Our omnipresent God cannot be taken away from us, although we may “feel” that He is not present at times.
Psalm 139:7-12 NLT
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
Proverbs 15:3 NLT
3 The Lord is watching everywhere,
keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
Psalm 145:18 NLT
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
Luke 11:9-10 NLT
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Samuel had an important role to fill.
