The answer is: He fell off his chair

1 Samuel 4:18

Eli's dramatic demise is shrouded in a blend of shock and symbolism, revealing the depths of his character and the tumultuous period in Israelite history. Picture him, a high priest, old and heavy—a man physically weighted by age and perhaps too much indulgence. When he hears the devastating news of the Ark of the Covenant being captured and his sons’ deaths, he plunges backward in disbelief and meets a tragic end.

It’s not just a personal loss; it holds greater significance as the Ark represented God’s presence among the Israelites. To some extent, Eli’s chair—bearing his weight and hinting at his failures—symbolizes the sacred responsibilities that can burden leaders, especially those unwilling to correct wrongdoing within their own families. His poor oversight of his sons, who were corrupt priests, and his failure to walk in the ways of the Lord contributed to the dire circumstance that followed.

Humorous side note: Eli’s fall can remind us of the cliché "what goes up must come down," especially since he was likely not in the best shape to absorb such a shock. In scriptural echoes, this moment mirrors the biblical theme of pride before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The foreshadowing in Epistles later resonates with this notion, underscoring the divine principle that leaders must exhibit integrity lest their sins usher in calamity—not just for themselves but for an entire community. Such stories enrich our understanding of accountability and the nuances of human frailty.