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.
"Eli's eyesight had begun to grow dim.   (1 Samuel 3:2) ...  His eyes were set, so that he could not see"  (1 Samuel 4:15).  We are indebted to Dr. John Willis for pointing out the progression in these statements, indicating the absolute unity of the whole narrative.[8]  Professor Willis also rejected the critical assertion that  1 Samuel 4:15 is a "later insertion."   "1 Samuel 4:15, which tells of Eli's blindness, is necessary, because it explains why Eli had to ask the messenger the outcome of the battle.  If Eli had not been blind, he would have known from the messenger's torn clothing and the earth on his head that the battle had been lost."[9]