1 Samuel 4:12-18 Neck or his Heart!

 ”Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the sound of this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly and told Eli. Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.” And he said, “What happened, my son?” So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” 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.“ ‭‭

I Samuel‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh: The battle was fought near Aphek (1 Samuel 4:1), and it was at least 20 miles from Aphek to Shiloh. The messenger had a long way to go, the route was mostly uphill, and he carried very bad news.

i. Because the news was so bad he came with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. These were some of the traditional signs of mourning. The messenger brought bad news, and he let his appearance reflect how bad the news was.

ii. According to an unfounded Jewish tradition, this unnamed messenger from the tribe of Benjaminwas a young man named Saul.

b. Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God: Eli anxiously waited back at the tabernacle for news of the battle. Eli was rightly more concerned about the fate of the ark than the fate of his sons.

i. Why was he so nervous? Eli knew that he had let the ark go on an unwise, superstitious errand, and his conscience made him fear it would end in disaster.

c. Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died: Eli fell over and died at the news of the ark (when he made mention of the ark of God). It wasn’t the news of Israel’s loss in battle, or the slaughter of the army, or even the news of the death of his own sons that killed him. It was hearing the ark of the covenant of God was captured.

i. “No sword of a Philistine could have slain him any more powerfully; neither can you say whether his neck or his heart were broken first.” (Trapp)

ii. God promised that Eli’s two sons would die on the same day as a sign of judgment on the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). God did not announce that Eli would also die the same day. God tells us much in prophecy, but not everything. Some things are only seen in their fullness after all is fulfilled.

iii. According to other passages, after the Philistines defeated the Israelite army they went on to destroy the city of Shiloh itself (Psalm 78:60-64, Jeremiah 7:12 and 26:9).

Trapp’s insight on the neck and heart is powerful! Eli had been given a prophecy and didn’t change his or his son’s ways!

Let this be a lesson for all, if your conscience is nagging you to repent, act on it before it’s too late because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring!

If you are in your golden years, as a friend once told me upon my father’s passing, “you are now mortal”. Which means, the previous generation is gone and you’re next!

This particular friend went for a bicycle ride never to return home again.

Questions:

Have you taken out your spiritual fire 🔥 insurance policy or renewed it?

Is your salvation secure in Jesus Christ?

Blessings