1 Samuel 4:12

1 Samuel 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
• New International Version (NIV)That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 1 Samuel 4:12

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe — thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. 11The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out. 14Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli.

1 Samuel 4:12 word by word

וַיָּ֤רָץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן֙ מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שִׁלֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וּמַדָּ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there ranרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• out of the armyמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Shilohשִׁלוֹshîylôh shilôh shîylô shilô · ShilohH7887
• the same dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• with his clothesמַדmad mêd · garmentH4055
• rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• and with earthאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
• upon his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:12

• 2 Samuel 1:2On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head came from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.
• Joshua 7:6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
• 2 Samuel 13:19Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out.
• 2 Samuel 15:32When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.
• Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.
• Job 2:12When they looked from a distance, they could barely recognize him. They wept aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust into the air and on his head.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Came to Shiloh the same day - The field of battle could not have been at any great distance, for this young man reached Shiloh the same evening after the defeat. With his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head - These were signs of sorrow and distress among all nations. The clothes rent, signified the rending, dividing, and scattering, of the people; the earth, or ashes on the head, signified their humiliation: "We are brought down to the dust of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Runners who were swift of foot, and could go long distances were important and well-known persons (compare 2 Samuel 18:19-31). There seem to have been always professional runners to act as messengers with armies in the field (2 Kings 11:4, 2Kings 11:6,2 Kings 11:19, the King James Version “guards”). Earth upon his head - In token of bitter grief. Compare the marginal references.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tidings of the death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, and who, as he had reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as a 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, yet not die eternally; may come to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12his clothes torn and dirt on his head: This shows grief and loss (for example, Joshua 7:6; 2 Samuel 1:2; 15:32; Job 2:12).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 4:12

• Ark
• Dust
• Eli
• Judgments
• Parents
• Shiloh

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Shiloh
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Eli
• Glory
• Mean
• Pain
• Philistines
• Tabernacle
• Tumult

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings