SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:13
y cuando llegó, he aquí Elí que estaba sentado sobre una silla atalayando junto al camino; porque su corazón estaba temblando por causa del arca de Dios. Y cuando aquel hombre llegó a la ciudad, a dar las nuevas, toda la ciudad gritó.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 4:13
Verse 13. His heart trembled for the ark of God] He was a most mild and affectionate father, and yet the safety of the ark lay nearer to his heart than the safety of his two sons. Who can help feeling for this aged, venerable man?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And when he came , etc.] To Shiloh; he either passed by Eli, who being blind could not see him, ( 1 Samuel 4:15) or he came in at another gate of the city on the other side of it, as Abarbinel thinks; though the former seems more likely by what follows, he not choosing to deliver the bad news to Eli first, whom he knew it would very much grieve, and therefore slipped by him into the city: lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching : by the “hand” of the way, as the marginal reading, and which we follow; it seems to be a place where two ways or more met, and where was a way post erected, with an hand directing what places they led to. The text is, “he”, or “it smote”, as if his heart smote him for letting the ark go; so Kimchi f87 ; here Eli had a seat placed, which, as the Targum says, was at the ascent of the way to the gate; and so the Septuagint has it, at the gate; and Josephus says it was at one of the gates; either of his own house, or of the tabernacle, or rather of the city; here he was watching for news, to hear what he could, and as soon as he could, how it fared with the army, with his sons, and especially with the ark; for his heart trembled for the ark of God ; not so much for his sons, whose death he might expect from the divine prediction, but for the ark, about which he was doubtful; fearing lest it should fall into the hands of the uncircumcised Philistines, who would triumph upon it, and which would make sad the heart of every true Israelite, and reflect much dishonour on the God of Israel; and very probably he might tremble the more when he reflected on his own sin and folly in suffering his sons to take it with them. Eli here may represent a good man in pain for the church of God, and the interest of religion in declining times, both with respect to ministers of the word, and members of churches: as when Gospel ministers are removed by death, few raised up in their stead, and those that do appear in the ministry, either unregenerate, as it may be feared; or have not gifts and abilities qualifying them for it; or are of immoral lives and conversations, or propagate false doctrines, errors, and heresies: and also when among professors of religion and members of churches there is a great decay of powerful godliness; and they are got into a drowsy, sleepy, frame of spirit, are become lukewarm and indifferent to spiritual exercises, want zeal for the Gospel and cause of Christ; are careless about the honour and interest of religion, unstable and inconstant in doctrine and worship, and in their affections to one another, and the ministers of the word; and their conversation not as becomes their profession: and when the man came into the city, and told it ; how that the army of Israel was beaten, what a number of men was killed, among whom were the two sons of the high priest, and the ark was taken: all the city cried out ; that is, all the inhabitants of the city, having most of them perhaps relations and friends in the army, for whom they were concerned, fearing their lives were lost; but especially the loss of the ark was insupportable by them, it being of so much advantage to that city particularly, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual; wherefore, upon hearing this bad news, there was a general shriek and cry throughout the whole city.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-18 - The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tiding of the death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, an who, as he had reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as father; yet there was a greater concern on his spirit. And when the messenger concluded his story with, "The ark of God is taken," he is struck to the heart, and died immediately. A man may die miserably, ye not die eternally; may come to an untimely end, yet the end be peace.
Original Hebrew
ויבוא 935 והנה 2009 עלי 5941 ישׁב 3427 על 5921 הכסא 3678 יך 5221 דרך 1870 מצפה 6822 כי 3588 היה 1961 לבו 3820 חרד 2730 על 5921 ארון 727 האלהים 430 והאישׁ 376 בא 935 להגיד 5046 בעיר 5892 ותזעק 2199 כל 3605 העיר׃ 5892
