Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

1 Samuel 4:11-20

11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

12 Death of Eli
That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head.

13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”
The man hurried over to Eli,

15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see.

16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”
Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years.

19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains.

20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

Cross References for 1 Samuel 4:11-20

Isaiah 3:11 - Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. Click to read the verse Isaiah 3:11 Click to read the verse Isaiah 3:11

Psalms 78:64 - their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep. Click to read the verse Psalms 78:64 Click to read the verse Psalms 78:64

1 Samuel 2:34 - “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both ... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 2:34 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 2:34

Leviticus 26:19 - I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground benea... Click to read the verse Leviticus 26:19 Click to read the verse Leviticus 26:19

Judges 18:17 - The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the o... Click to read the verse Judges 18:17 Click to read the verse Judges 18:17

1 Samuel 5:1 - The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it fro... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 5:1 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 5:1

1 Samuel 1:3 - Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 1:3 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 1:3

Psalms 78:60-61 - He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men. Click to read the verse Psalms 78:60-61 Click to read the verse Psalms 78:60-61

1 Samuel 2:32 - and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, in your family ... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 2:32 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 2:32

1 Samuel 4:21 - She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture ... Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 4:21 Click to read the verse 1 Samuel 4:21

2 Samuel 15:24 - Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covena... Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 15:24 Click to read the verse 2 Samuel 15:24