Eli's Death: 4:12–22 News of the defeat was brought to Shiloh. The reader is drawn into the situation and can see and feel the tension in Eli as he waits for news and the breathlessness of the messenger who announces himself to the sightless old priest. Eli’s fear for the ark of God maybe indicated that he did not share the Israelites’ misunderstanding and that he knew their attempt to manipulate God was a mistake. Nevertheless, the news of the loss of the ark was too much of a shock for Eli, who fell off his chair. Perhaps the mention of his weight being a factor in his death relates to 2:29, when his desire for choice food involved him in his sons’ contempt for God’s offering.

The shock sends Eli’s daughter-in-law into premature labor, and the trag…