Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Samuel 4:11-17
News Is Brought To Shiloh Of The Capture Of The Ark Of YHWH And The Death Of Eli's Two Sons (1 Samuel 4:11).
The devastating news now comes to Shiloh of the capture of the Ark of YHWH and the deaths of the two sons of Eli. The prophecy in 1 Samuel 2:34 had been fulfilled. It was all inconceivably dreadful for Israel. Their most sacred object, the very throne of YHWH, was now in the hands of their enemies, and that could only mean that YHWH would be humiliated before the gods of the Philistines, just as Samson had been. And at the same time both of the heirs to the High Priesthood had been killed
In this passage the main purpose is to bring out the total humiliation of the house of Eli, and the depths to which Israel had fallen because they did not seek YHWH. But the reader also sees it as in contrast with the previously described glorious rise of Samuel. He recognises that it is the young Samuel who now ‘sees', and that the corrupt and blind house of Eli has necessarily withered and died. And because of Israel's folly God had allowed the Ark of YHWH to be taken by the enemy. The priests had proved themselves not to be fit keepers of the Ark. But underneath the reader is aware, not of despair but of hope. For while he sees the humiliation of the house of Eli, he knows that out of the ashes of defeat God will bring victory through the man whom He has raised up, through Samuel. He already knows that YHWH has a man available whom he has chosen. He also knows that YHWH is well able to look after the Ark.
Analysis.
a And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain (1 Samuel 4:11).
b And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head. And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting on his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out (1 Samuel 4:12).
c And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does this tumultuous noise mean?”
d And the man ran hurriedly, and came and told Eli.
e Now Eli was ninety eight years old, and his eyes were set, so that he could not see (1 Samuel 4:14).
d And the man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army” (1 Samuel 4:16 a).
c And he said, “How went the matter, my son?” (1 Samuel 4:16 b).
b And he who brought the tidings answered and said, “Israel is fled before the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:17 a).
a “And there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken” (1 Samuel 4:17 b).
‘ And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.'
The humiliation of the house of Eli continues. God's judgment is being wrought upon them to the full. The Ark of God for which they were responsible is now in the hands of the enemy, and the two blasphemers are dead. The house of Eli is in total disarray because of their deep sin and blasphemy.
‘ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head.'
Meanwhile a messenger, a man of Benjamin, flees from the battlefield and prepares to take the news of the lost battle to Shiloh. He tears his clothes and puts earth on his head so that as he approaches they will know that the news is bad. The distance from Shiloh was about twenty miles, a distance that he was therefore able to accomplish ‘on the same day'.
‘ And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting on his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.'
As the messenger approached Shiloh the aged Eli was sitting on his usual seat outside the gate of the Temple, trembling with apprehension at what might happen to the Ark of God. He had clearly not been happy at its being taken, but had presumably been overruled. Then he heard the cries that rang throughout the city when the messenger had told them the woeful news.
‘ And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does this tumultuous noise mean?” And the man ran hurriedly, and came and told Eli.'
When the blind old man heard the tumultuous cries he called out and asked what the noise meant. Meanwhile the man was making all speed to come to Eli to inform him as High Priest of the bad news.
‘ Now Eli was ninety eight years old, and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.'
The sad state of Eli is brought out in that he was now ninety eight years old and blind. His blindness was a true portrayal of his house. They were all worn out and spiritually blind.
‘ And the man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” And he said, “How went the matter, my son?” '
The messenger explains to Eli that he is the one who has caused the tumult. He had that very day left the army and fled from the battlefield. Trembling the old man, who in his blindness could not see his dishevelled state, asked the question that was weighing so heavily on his mind. Perhaps there was still hope of something good coming out of the battle?. He was soon to be disillusioned.
‘ And he who brought the tidings answered and said, “Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.”
The one who brought the news did not mince matters. He knew that things could hardly be worse. He informed Eli that Israel had fled before the Philistines, and that there had been a great slaughter. That Hophni and Phinehas were dead, and that the Ark of God had been taken. It was the worst of all possible news. All was lost. Note the order in which the information is given. For Eli each blow was worse than the last, and the last was the worst of all. Judgment had come on his house to the full, and the Tabernacle was bereft of its most sacred object, the very symbol of their covenant with YHWH.