1 Samuel 4:16
And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
Original Language Analysis
הָאִ֜ישׁ
And the man
H376
הָאִ֜ישׁ
And the man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 18
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הַבָּ֣א
I am he that came
H935
הַבָּ֣א
I am he that came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
6 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַמַּֽעֲרָכָ֖ה
out of the army
H4634
הַמַּֽעֲרָכָ֖ה
out of the army
Strong's:
H4634
Word #:
8 of 18
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
10 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַמַּֽעֲרָכָ֖ה
out of the army
H4634
הַמַּֽעֲרָכָ֖ה
out of the army
Strong's:
H4634
Word #:
11 of 18
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
נַ֣סְתִּי
and I fled
H5127
נַ֣סְתִּי
and I fled
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
12 of 18
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
הַיּ֑וֹם
to day
H3117
הַיּ֑וֹם
to day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 18
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
מֶֽה
H4100
מֶֽה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הָיָ֥ה
H1961
הָיָ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
16 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Historical Context
Eyewitness testimony carried special weight in ancient cultures. The messenger's identification as a battlefield participant authenticated his report. Same-day arrival demonstrated the urgency of his mission.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does the messenger emphasize his eyewitness status?
- What weight does immediate, firsthand testimony carry in establishing truth?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The messenger identifies himself as an eyewitness: 'I am he that came out of the army.' His statement 'I fled to day' indicates same-day arrival, emphasizing urgency and recent experience of the disaster. Eli's question 'What is there done?' invites the terrible report. The Hebrew mah hayah hadavar ('what was the thing/word') requests the substantive news beneath the crying. Eli must hear the specific content of the catastrophe his failures have brought about.