1 Samuel 4 18

1 Samuel 4:18 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 4:18 nkjv

Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:18 niv

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 he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:18 esv

As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:18 nlt

When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel's judge for forty years.

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 18 Meaning

1 Samuel 4:18 recounts the death of Eli, the High Priest and judge of Israel, upon hearing the news of the Ark of God's capture. The immediate cause of his death was a backward fall from his seat, resulting in a broken neck, a consequence attributed to his advanced age and heavy build. This tragic event culminates a series of divine judgments against Eli's house, fulfilled when the ultimate symbol of God's presence in Israel was taken by their enemies.

1 Samuel 4 18 Context

1 Samuel chapter 4 details a pivotal moment in Israel's history during the period of the Judges. After a military defeat by the Philistines, the Israelites bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield, believing its presence would guarantee victory. This act, however, was born out of superstition and a misapprehension of God's character and covenant, not genuine faith. Instead, Israel suffers a devastating defeat, losing 30,000 foot soldiers. Crucially, Eli's two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who had profaned the sanctuary, are killed in battle, and the Ark of God is captured. The news of this triple tragedy is brought to the 98-year-old Eli, who, while grieved by the deaths of his sons and the defeat, suffers his fatal blow upon hearing that the Ark of God has been taken. This event is the climax of the judgment previously prophesied against Eli's house (1 Sam 2:27-36; 3:11-14) for his failure to restrain his sons and honor God above them.

1 Samuel 4 18 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: (וַיְהִי, vayhi) A common narrative transition in Hebrew, indicating a significant event unfolds. It suggests divine orchestration rather than mere coincidence.
• when he made mention: (בְּהַזְכִּירוֹ, bəhazkîrô) Lit. "in his mentioning." The specific content mentioned—the Ark—is the trigger. Eli's physical state succumbed only after hearing about God's presence, not his sons or the defeat itself.
• of the ark of God: (אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים, ʾārôn hāʾĕlōhîm) Not merely an object, but the tangible symbol of God's holy presence, His covenant, and His glory (cf. Exod 25:22). Its capture was an affront to God's honor and the deepest theological wound for Eli. Its mention triggered an immediate, fatal physical response.
• that he fell off the seat backward: (וַיִּפֹּל מֵעַל הַכִּסֵּא אָחֹור, vayyippōl mêʿal hakkissē ʾāḥôr) Eli was likely seated in a position of authority at the gate (a common place for judgment in ancient cities). His fall backward signifies an unceremonious and sudden end, a complete collapse of his physical and perhaps spiritual posture. This manner of death lacks dignity and can be seen as an immediate physical manifestation of a spiritual fall.
• by the side of the gate: Indicates his public position of waiting and judging. The "gate" was where judges sat, demonstrating the abrupt end of his long judgeship.
• and his neck brake: (וַתִּשָּׁבֵר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ, vattishāver maphraqtô) A sudden, fatal fracture of the cervical vertebrae. This immediate and definitive physical action indicates a divinely permitted and specific mode of death, a sharp termination. It emphasizes the severity of the news' impact.
• and he died: (וַיָּמֹת, vayyāmot) Simple and conclusive. The end of a life, directly resulting from the shock and physical trauma. It marks the definitive fulfillment of prophecy.
• for he was an old man, and heavy: (כִּי זָקֵן הוּא וְכָבֵד, kî zāqên hûʾ wəkhābēd) This clause offers a natural explanation for the fatal outcome of the fall, linking physical frailty with the tragic event. "Heavy" (kaved) here implies obese or ponderous, making him susceptible to a debilitating fall, while also possibly carrying the subtle connotation of the moral burden he bore for his sons' actions. It underscores how the divine judgment works through natural means.
• And he had judged Israel forty years: (וְהוּא שָׁפַט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, wəhûʾ shāpaṭ ʾet Yiśrāʾēl ʾarbāʿîm shānâ) A final, stark summary of his life and lengthy public service, immediately contrasted with his inglorious end. The "forty years" often signifies a full generation or a period of trial in biblical context, indicating the entire scope of Eli's rise and tragic fall as Israel's leader.

1 Samuel 4 18 Bonus section

Eli's posture: The fact that he was "off the seat backward" could signify more than just an unfortunate physical accident. Symbolically, it could represent his "unseating" as a judge, his ultimate rejection, or the spiritual state of his household and even Israel—turning their backs on God. The death happening "by the side of the gate" reinforces the public nature of his role and demise, witnessed at the place of civic authority and interaction. His physical "heaviness" (kaved) not only contributes to his fatal fall but might subtly hint at the "heavy" spiritual burden of his family's sins which weighed upon him, a burden he failed to adequately address (cf. 1 Sam 2:29). This detailed narrative provides an example of a ruler whose personal failings lead to national consequence and his own ignominious end.

1 Samuel 4 18 Commentary

Eli's death in 1 Samuel 4:18 serves as a dramatic and somber culmination of the judgment against his household previously pronounced by God. While physically he died due to a fall from a seat, his advanced age, and weight, the immediate trigger—the news of the Ark of God's capture—reveals the underlying spiritual reality. Eli could endure the news of a great military defeat and even the death of his two sons, but the sacrilege of God's sacred presence being in enemy hands was unbearable for him, demonstrating his ultimate devotion, albeit imperfectly lived out. His passing not only fulfills prophecy but marks the end of a corrupt priestly lineage and paves the way for Samuel, a righteous prophet, to rise to full leadership. This scene powerfully illustrates how divine judgment can operate through natural circumstances, and that the greatest blow for one committed to God is the dishonor shown to His Name.