11. God’s chest was taken, and Eli’s two sons Hophni and Phinehas died.
12. That very day, a Benjaminite ran from the battle to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head.
13. When he got there, Eli was sitting in a chair beside the road, waiting because he was nervous about God’s chest. The man arrived and gave the news to the city, and the whole city cried out.
14. Eli heard the sound of the cry and said, "What’s all this noise about?"The man hurriedly went and told Eli the news. (
15. Now Eli was 98 years old, and his eyes stared straight ahead, unable to see.)
16. The man told Eli, "I’m the one who just came from the battle. I fled from the battle today.""What’s the report, my son?" Eli asked.
17. The messenger answered, "Israel has fled from the Philistines. The army has suffered a massive defeat. Also, your own two sons Hophni and Phinehas have died, and God’s chest has been taken!"
18. At the mention of God’s chest, Eli fell backward off the chair beside the gate. His neck broke, and he died because he was an old man and overweight. Eli had judged Israel for forty years.