12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that same day, and his clothes were torn and earth was on his head. 13 When he came, ⌊there was⌋j Eli sitting on his chair ⌊by the side of the road⌋k watching, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. Now the man had come ⌊to give his report⌋l in the city, and all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What is the noise of this commotion?” Then the man ⌊came quickly⌋m and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ⌊ninety-eight years old⌋n and his eyes ⌊stayed fixed ahead⌋o and he was not able to see. 16 And the man said to Eli, “I am the one who has come from the battle line! I have fled today from the battle line!” And he said, “⌊What exactly happened⌋,p my son?” 17 Then the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines. There has been a great defeat among the troops. Also, your two sons have died, Hophni and Phinehas, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 Just as he mentioned the ark of God, heq fell from his chair backwards against the side of the gate. He broke his neck and died, because the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news concerning the capture of the ark of God and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she ⌊went into labor⌋r and gave birth, because her labor pains came upon her. 20 Just before the time of her death, those ⌊attending her⌋s said, “Do not fear, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer, or ⌊pay any attention⌋.t 21 She called the boy Ichabod,u saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and concerning her father-in-law and husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God was captured.”v