When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hastened and came and told Eli.
Stand by the way and watch, O inhabitant of Aroer! Ask him who flees and her who escapes; say, ‘What has happened?’
When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.