The answer is: He fell off his chair

1 Samuel 4:18

In the drama of 1 Samuel, Eli's demise is a compelling moment that wraps up his turbulent story filled with warning signs. In chapter 4, we find Eli, who has been judging Israel for years but has failed to correct the reckless behavior of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. His death comes unexpectedly as he receives the grim news that the Ark of the Covenant has been captured by the Philistines – a devastating blow not just to him personally, but to Israel’s identity and faith.

Now, let's picture the scene. Eli, an old man, is sitting on a chair when he hears the horrifying news. In an instant of shock, he tumbles backward, breaking his neck and his heart in manifold ways. Interestingly, chairs in ancient Israel weren't the comfy recliners we've got today; they were quite basic, wooden, and often left for the more powerful. So, it’s fitting, perhaps, that the end of the high priest wasn't in glory, but in tragic foreshadowing of the decline of a once revered spiritual lineage.

Now, in Hebrew culture, the Ark not only represented God’s divine presence but also embodied the life and power of the people. When it was captured, the symbolism of Israel’s defeat—Eli as the unworthy guardian who couldn’t reel in his wayward priestly family—resonates deeply in the storyline. It’s a narrative touching on themes of accountability, consequences, and the unyielding nature of divine justice throughout many lives that echoes through the ages. Times have changed - but moral lapses, familial challenges, and the search for meaning pervade the fabric of human experience.