Eli, a man who judged Israel for forty years, died on a day of great conflict between the children of Israel and the Philistines. He did not die in battle, nor was he killed by the sword of his enemy. Instead, he died a sad death upon hearing news of the battle.
“The man said to Eli, ‘I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.’ And he said, ‘How did things go, my son?’ Then the one who brought the news replied, ‘Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.’
“When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years” (1 Samuel 4:16-18).
There were four troubling pieces of news that Eli received before he died.
First, he learned that Israel had fled before the Philistines. It is discouraging when one’s brethren are unwilling to stand up and fight, preferring to lay down their arms and flee when the battle becomes fierce.
Second, Eli was told of the great slaughter of his brethren at the hand of the Philistines. Worse than giving up, these brethren were destroyed. There was no longer any hope of these individuals strengthening their resolve and returning to the fight. They were gone.
Third, he was informed of the death of his two sons. While these two were described as “worthless men” who “did not know the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:12), that would not change the concern that a father would have for his sons. Eli could no longer hold out hope that maybe someday they would repent and follow his direction in serving the Lord.
The fourth piece of news he received was that the ark of God had been taken. As concerned as he would be for the cowardice displayed by his brethren, and as grieved as he would naturally be by the death of his sons and many of his countrymen, this was worse. The text specifically stated that it is when he heard of the ark’s capture that he fell backward and died.
Why was the ark so important? It was where the high priest, on behalf of the people, would meet with God. This was explained in the instructions given concerning the construction of the ark.
“You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel” (Exodus 25:21-22).
The loss of family and friends is certainly a cause of sorrow. But to be cut off from fellowship with God is devastating.
God does not meet with us and speak to us above the mercy seat on the ark today. Instead, He has revealed His will to us in His word (1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:16). If we want to remain in fellowship with God, we must continue to look to His word for guidance (Psalm 119:105), abide in His teaching (2 John 9), and do the things He instructs us to do (Matthew 7:21). Nothing is more important than this.
Good one, Andy! I have always felt bad for Eli and wondered how much of his sons’ worthlessness was chargeable to him.
It does seem like there was some failing on Eli’s part for the behavior of his sons. God told Samuel of Eli, “For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them” (1 Samuel 3:13).
Of course, even if he did rebuke them, they could still choose to rebel against the Lord. But it appears that Eli did not do all that he could to restrain them.