1 Sam 4:12-16

^4:12 A Benjaminite ran from the battle-line and reached Shiloh the same day, his clothes torn and dust on his head. 
^4:13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat beside the gate watching the road, for his heart was trembling for the ark of God. The man came into the town and told the news, whereupon cries of anguish filled the town. 
^4:14 Eli heard the sound and asked, 'What does this uproar mean?' The man hurried on and told Eli. 
^4:15 Eli was ninety-eight years old; his gaze was fixed; he was blind. 
^4:16 The man said to Eli, 'I have come from the camp. I escaped from the battle-line today.' 'My son,' said Eli, 'what happened?' 

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

12 King Saul was from the same tribe as this man. Those of Benjamin may have been more proud of Saul being king because of him being from there tribe. Shiloh was where the priests were at this time, where the tabernacle was. Tearing clothes was a sign of desperate grief and mourning.

13 The ark symbolized God’s presence, Eli being the priest knew that it was important for the ark to go into war with them but also as important the ark return.

14 This man had to break the bad news to Eli, this was a big defeat for Israel but the Lord would use it to bring David to the throne.

15 Eli was old and because of this he could not see, this was very common for those of age to lose their sight it was seen as a sign that their life was coming to an end.

16 Eli should have known by the way this man was acting that it did not go well but the better question would have been how bad did it go.