1 Samuel 4:14

14 et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris dixitque quis est hic sonitus tumultus huius at ille festinavit et venit et adnuntiavit Heli

1 Samuel 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 4:14

And when Eli heard the noise of the crying
The shrieks of the men and women, which were very clamorous and terrible. Eli had his hearing, though not his sight; he could not see the distress in their countenances, but he heard the lamentations they made:

and said, what meaneth the noise of this tumult?
it seems the people ran about, wringing their hands, and making doleful shrieks; the noise of which Eli heard, and the meaning of which he inquired after, or what should be the cause of it:

and the man came in hastily, and told Eli;
or made haste, and came to him, and related all that is later expressed; for Eli was not in any house, but on a seat by the way side, and therefore could not be said to come "in" to him; but he came to him, where he was, being brought by some of the citizens Eli had inquired of what should be the meaning of this noise; and therefore without delay the man was hastened to give the whole account unto him, as it was highly proper he should, being the supreme magistrate.

1 Samuel 4:14 In-Context

12 currens autem vir de Beniamin ex acie venit in Silo in die illo scissa veste et conspersus pulvere caput

13 cumque ille venisset Heli sedebat super sellam contra viam aspectans erat enim cor eius pavens pro arca Domini vir autem ille postquam ingressus est nuntiavit urbi et ululavit omnis civitas

14 et audivit Heli sonitum clamoris dixitque quis est hic sonitus tumultus huius at ille festinavit et venit et adnuntiavit Heli

15 Heli autem erat nonaginta et octo annorum et oculi eius caligaverant et videre non poterat

16 et dixit ad Heli ego sum qui veni de proelio et ego qui de acie fugi hodie cui ille ait quid actum est fili mi