13When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What means the noise of this tumult? The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
16The man said to Eli, I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. He said, How went the matter, my son?
17He who brought the news answered, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
19His daughter-in-law, Phinehas` wife, was with child, near to be delivered: 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 brought forth; for her pains came on her.
