1 Samuel 4:12
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֤רָץ
And there ran
H7323
וַיָּ֤רָץ
And there ran
Strong's:
H7323
Word #:
1 of 13
to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)
אִישׁ
a man
H376
אִישׁ
a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 13
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)
בִּנְיָמִן֙
of Benjamin
H1144
בִּנְיָמִן֙
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
3 of 13
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה
out of the army
H4634
מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה
out of the army
Strong's:
H4634
Word #:
4 of 13
an arrangement; concretely, a pile; specifically a military array
בַּיּ֣וֹם
the same day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
the same day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
7 of 13
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
הַה֑וּא
H1931
הַה֑וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
8 of 13
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וּמַדָּ֣יו
with his clothes
H4055
וּמַדָּ֣יו
with his clothes
Strong's:
H4055
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, extent, i.e., height; also a measure; by implication, a vesture (as measured); also a carpet
קְרֻעִ֔ים
rent
H7167
קְרֻעִ֔ים
rent
Strong's:
H7167
Word #:
10 of 13
to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
Cross References
Joshua 7:6And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.Job 2:12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.Nehemiah 9:1Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.2 Samuel 1:2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.2 Samuel 15:32And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
Historical Context
Torn clothes and earth on the head were standard ancient Near Eastern expressions of grief and mourning. The messenger's appearance would communicate disaster before any words were spoken, following cultural conventions for bearing tragic news.
Questions for Reflection
- How do physical expressions of grief communicate spiritual realities?
- What can we learn from the immediacy of the messenger's journey?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
A Benjamite messenger runs from the battlefield to Shiloh, arriving the same day with torn clothes and earth on his head - traditional signs of mourning and disaster. The urgency of his journey matches the severity of his news. Benjamin's territory lay between Ephraim (where Shiloh stood) and the coastal plain (where the Philistines camped), making a Benjamite courier geographically appropriate. His appearance alone signals catastrophe before words are spoken.