Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 4:18
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
18. the ark of God ] National defeat and disgrace, family bereavement, were but trifles compared to the loss of the Ark, which seemed to prove that Jehovah had forsaken the people of his choice. “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?”
he had judged Israel forty years ] See note on 1Sa 4:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A comparison of 2Sa 18:4, explains exactly the meaning of the side of the gate, and Elis position. His seat or throne, without a back, stood with the side against the jamb of the gate, leaving the passage through the gate quite clear, but placed so that every one passing through the gate must pass in front of him.
Forty years – This chronological note connects this book with that of Judges. (Compare Jdg 3:11, etc.) It is an interesting question, but one very difficult to answer how near to the death of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the High Priest, Elis forty years of judgeship bring him. It is probable that at least one high priesthood intervened.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. When he made mention of the ark of God] Eli bore all the relation till the messenger came to this solemn word; he had trembled before for the ark, and now, hearing that it was captured, he was transfixed with grief, fell down from his seat, and dislocated his neck! Behold the judgments of God! But shall we say that this man, however remiss in the education of his children, and criminal in his indulgence towards his profligate sons, which arose more from the easiness of his disposition than from a desire to encourage vice, is gone to perdition? God forbid! No man ever died with such benevolent and religious feelings, and yet perished.
He had judged Israel forty years] Instead of forty years, the Septuagint has here , twenty years. All the other versions, as well as the Hebrew text, have forty years.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He fell from off the seat backward; being so oppressed with grief and astonishment, that he had no strength left to support him.
By the side of the gate, to wit, the gate of the city, which was most convenient for the speedy understanding of all occurrences.
He was an old man, and heavy; old, and therefore weak, and apt to fall;
heavy, and therefore his fall more dangerous and pernicious.
He had judged Israel; he was their supreme governor, both in civils and spirituals.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God,…. Of the taking of that, it struck him to the heart, and killed him; the rest he bore tolerably well, the flight of Israel before the Philistines, the great slaughter made of them, the death of his two sons; but the taking of the ark was so dreadful to him, that he could not support under it:
that he fell from off the seat backward, by the side of the gate; which confirms the sense of 1Sa 4:13 though whether it was the gate of his own house, or of the tabernacle, or of the city is not certain; the latter is most probable: it seems the seat on which he sat had no back to it, and might be placed only for present convenience:
and his neck brake; the back part of it, the “vertebrae” of it, which has its name in Hebrew from the several joints in it:
and he died; not through the breaking of his neck, for it is very probable he died directly upon hearing the ark was taken, and which was the reason of his falling backward, and that brake his neck:
for he was an old man, and heavy; full of flesh, a very fat man, and so fell heavy, which occasioned the breaking of his neck:
and he had judged Israel forty years; had governed them in the capacity both of an high priest and judge, so that he must enter on his government when fifty eight years of age; the Septuagint version has it very wrongly twenty years. According to the Jews i, he died on the tenth of Ijar, answering to part of April and May, and his two sons and the ark taken; for which a fast was kept on it.
i Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. c. 580. sect. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) He fell from off the seat backward.The compiler of these books was actuated by no feeling of friendship to the high priest Eli. In composing this history of the events which led to the elevation of Samuel to the judgeship, he simply puts together the materials he possessed of the records of these days, and gives us a vivid picture of the calamities of the rule of Eli. As he never spares his weakness, or attempts to veil his blind nepotism, we feel here the perfect truth of this touching incident which closed the old mans life. He loved the Ark, because of its close connection with his God, better, after all, than his two sons. We have seen already that he could bear the stern announcement of the ruin and degradation of the fortune of his proud house, for which he toiled only too faithfully; he could bear to see anotherthe boy Samuelpreferred before him, the high priest and judge of Israel; he could endure to hear of the defeat and ruin of the country over which he had so long ruled, and which he loved so well; even the news of the death of his sons he could listen to with sad resignation; but when his ears caught the words the ark of God is taken, the old man s heart broke, and he died. The chronicler of this period, who certainly never favoured Eli, leaves upon us the impression that with all his faults and imperfections he was still a servant of God. Wordsworth quotes here Psa. 137:5-6 : If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.The dying words of Archbishop Whitgift were, Pro ecclesils Dei,For the church of God.
And he had judged Israel forty years.When I read of Eli the priest, of the sons of Aaron, judging Israel forty years, and of Samuel, certainly a Levite, though not a priest, going circuit as a judge itinerant in Israel (1Sa. 7:16), and of others of the families of Levi appointed by King David to be judges and officers, not only in all the business of the Lord, but also for the outward business of Israel (2Sa. 15:35; 1Ch. 26:29-32)when I observe in the Church stories, ever since the world had Christian princes, how ecclesiastical persons have been employed by their sovereigns in their weightiest consultations and affairs of state, I cannot but wonder at those who inveigh against courts, power, jurisdiction, and the temporalities of bishops and other ecclesiastical persons. I speak it not to justify abuses of men, but to justify the lawfulness of the tiling.Bishop Sanderson, quoted by Wordsworth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
The Tragic Aftermath Of The News From The Battlefield ( 1Sa 4:18-22 ).
The shattering news from the battlefield caused the blind old man to fall backwards and break his neck, while his daughter-in-law, who was pregnant, went into premature labour at the news, bearing a son, and then dying after first naming the child Ichabod because ‘the glory had departed’ from Israel. The reader would note the contrast between the name of Ichabod (‘where is the glory’ or ‘no glory’) and the name of Samuel (Shemuel), ‘name of God’ or ‘God hears’. It will be noted that in both cases the news that disturbed them most was that the Ark of God had been taken. That was something that was almost inconceivable to them. The most sacred possession in the Tabernacle, the very throne of YHWH and guarantee of His presence, and it had been lost to the enemy. What was Israel to do now? (The readers know the answer. It lies in God’s new prophet Samuel. They know that he is the one who will still bring the word of YHWH to Israel).
Analysis. .
a And it came about that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his seat backwards by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died. For he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (1Sa 4:18).
b And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to the time of delivery, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and bore her child, for her labour pains came on her (1Sa 4:19).
c And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it”.
b And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband (1Sa 4:20-21).
a And she said, “The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark of God is taken” (1Sa 4:22).
Note that in ‘a’ Eli dies because the Ark of God is taken, and in the parallel the dying wife of Phinehas declares that ‘the glory is departed because the Ark of God is taken’. In ‘b’ the wife hears that the Ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and husband are dead, and bows herself and bears a child, and in the parallel she names the child Ichabod because the Ark of God is taken and because her father-in-law and husband are dead. In ‘c’ and centrally she is in such trauma at the news that she finds no joy in the birth of her son.
1Sa 4:18
‘ And it came about that when he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell from his seat backwards by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died. For he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.’
When the old man heard the news about the Ark he fell backwards at the side of the gate, and because he was an old man and heavy he broke his neck and died. He had judged Israel for ‘forty years’, that is, for over a generation. Presumably his father, the previous High Priest had died when Eli was around sixty to seventy years of age.
1Sa 4:19
‘ And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to the time of delivery, and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and bore her child, for her pains came on her.’
When the pregnant wife of the dead Phinehas heard the news that the Ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, it was all too much. She went into premature labour and bore a son. She had lost everything she had lived for at one go. But the nature of the birth was such that it killed her. She survived just long enough to name the child.
1Sa 4:20
‘ And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.”
The women around her tried to encourage her. They pointed out that she had borne a son, the dream of every Israelite woman. But she was so traumatised that it meant nothing to her. She was totally unmoved.
1Sa 4:21
‘ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory is departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
Her last act was to name the child ‘Ichabod’ which means ‘no glory’ or ‘where is glory?’ declaring that the glory was departed from Israel. This was for a threefold reason. Firstly because the Ark of God was taken. Secondly because the High Priest was dead. And thirdly because her own husband was also dead.
1Sa 4:22
‘
The writer then draws attention to what was for Israel the most dreaded news of all. She had said ‘the glory is departed from Israel’ BECAUSE THE ARK OF GOD WAS TAKEN. The ‘glory’ of a nation indicated its most treasured possessions (see Isa 17:3). And it had lost its most treasured and revered possession. Israel must have been stunned at this news. It was now clear that YHWH had deserted them. He had preferred to go with the Philistines. All was lost.
But what was the truth of the matter? Why has YHWH removed the Ark from Israel? Surely it is because the priesthood, who gained such prestige from the Ark and the worship related to it, had proved to be unworthy. Thus YHWH has removed the Ark from Israel as an indication that He is no longer their King because of their evil ways, while being at the same time about to demonstrate to the Philistines His essential superiority as Lord over all.
But He will eventually replace it with another symbol of His presence, the mighty prophet Samuel. The glory has not departed. It is growing up amongst them. And YHWH will also restore the Ark to Israel in order to demonstrate that His offer to be their King is still open, awaiting its due time, although it will be put into suitable storage until that time comes.
For Samuel will eventually be followed by the true king of Israel, archetype of the coming everlasting King. It is thus only once Samuel has brought the people back to God and to true faith in YHWH, and when the true archetype of God’s future blessing is on the throne, that the Ark will be reinstated for public worship. Meanwhile it will still be the symbol of YHWH’s Kingship over His people, demonstrate practically by the Spirit anointed deliverers that He will provide for them.
And there is another reason for what has happened here. And that is that YHWH wants to bring home to the Philistines the terror of YHWH. This terror must have shaped their attitude towards Israel and its God for a long while to come.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Sa 4:18. When he made mention of the ark of God Eli supported himself under his private calamities; but he no sooner heard of the loss of the ark, than his heart failed him, and his concern for religion affected him in the deepest manner; for, except that he was too indulgent a father, he appears to have been a worthy man. He judged Israel forty years, which certainly aggravated the calamity of his family. The higher and the longer he was elevated, the more terrible was his fall. The Jews observe, that on the day of his death God forsook his tabernacle in Shiloh, having delivered his strength into captivity. See Psa 78:60. Mr. Saurin observes respecting Eli, that he was more unhappy than blameable, if one may judge of his misfortunes at the tribunal of flesh and blood; since his crimes proceeded less from a spirit of rebellion against the divine laws, than from a principle of weakness for a family towards which indulgence seems so excusable. But the greater our tenderness for our children, the more is it likely to excite the wrath of God when loosed from those ties which unite us to him; ties to which all others should give place, and which will ever be most pleasing to reasonable creatures, whom God permits to love him, and whom he himself deigns to honour with his love.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
Ver. 18. When he made mention of the ark. ] This word struck him down backward, and killed him in the fall. No sword of a Philistine could have slain him more powerfully; neither can you say whether his neck or heart were first broken.
His neck brake, and he died.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
when he made: 1Sa 4:21, 1Sa 4:22, Psa 26:8, Psa 42:3, Psa 42:10, Psa 69:9, Lam 2:15-19
his neck: 1Sa 2:31, 1Sa 2:32, 1Sa 3:12, 1Sa 3:13, Lev 10:3, 1Co 11:30-32, 1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:18
And he had: “He seems to have been a judge to do justice only, and that in south-west Israel.
Reciprocal: Gen 44:31 – when he 1Sa 1:3 – And the 1Sa 5:1 – took 1Ki 13:21 – thou hast disobeyed 1Ki 14:17 – when she came 1Ch 10:6 – Saul Psa 71:18 – Now Ecc 12:2 – the sun
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 4:18. He fell from his seat backward Being so oppressed with grief and astonishment that he had no strength left to support him. Though he was much to be blamed for his too great indulgence and lenity toward his sons, yet it was highly commendable in him that he was not so much affected by their death, and the slaughter of the people, as with the loss of the ark of God. By the side of the gate At the entrance of the city, where his chair was set; the most convenient place for receiving speedy information of all occurrences. For he was an old man, and heavy Old, and therefore weak, and apt to fall; heavy, and therefore his fall more dangerous. So fell the high-priest and judge of Israel! So fell his heavy head, when he had lived within two of a hundred years! So fell the crown from his head, when he had judged Israel forty years: thus did his sun set under a cloud. Thus was the wickedness of those sons of his, whom he had indulged, his ruin. Thus does God sometimes set marks of his displeasure on good men, that others may hear and fear. Yet we must observe, it was the loss of the ark that was his death, and not the slaughter of his sons. He says, in effect, Let me fall with the ark! Who can live when the ordinances of God are removed? Farewell all in this world, even life itself, if the ark be gone!