As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”p>

He altered his behavior in their presence.<n id="1" /> Since he was in their power,<n id="2" /> he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard.p>

<p class="bodytext">When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli<n id="1" /> fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he<n id="2" /> was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward, shouting a battle cry.<n id="1" /> They chased the Philistines to the valley<n id="2" /> and to the very gates of Ekron. The Philistine corpses lay fallen along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.