There ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head.
There is a word play in the Hebrew text that helps us understand the significance of the departure of God’s glory. The Hebrew word for "heavy" (1 Samuel 4:18) is kabed, and the word for "glory" (1 Samuel 4:21) is kabod. Rather than Israel enjoying glory from God’s presence through Eli’s priesthood, Eli himself had received the glory, as his heavy weight implies. Eli’s apparent self-indulgence was responsible for the departure of God’s glory from Israel and from his line of priests. [Note: See John H. Sailhamer, The Pentateuch as Narrative, p. 400-401.] 