4:14 When Eli heard the outcry, 1 he said, “What is this commotion?” 2 The man quickly came and told Eli. 4:15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes looked straight ahead; 3 he was unable to see.
4:16 The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle lines! Just today I fled from the battle lines!” Eli 4 asked, “How did things go, my son?” 4:17 The messenger replied, “Israel has fled from 5 the Philistines! The army has suffered a great defeat! Your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead! The ark of God has been captured!”
4:18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli 6 fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he 7 was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.
1 tn Heb “the sound of the cry.”
2 tn Heb “the sound of this commotion.”
3 tn Heb “were set” or “were fixed,” i.e., without vision.
5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eli) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “before.”
9 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Eli) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Heb “the man.”