1 Samuel 4:17
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
Cross-references
1 Samuel 4:10 records the actual battle defeat and great slaughter that the messenger summarizes in this verse.
1 Samuel 4:11 reports the capture of the ark and death of Eli's sons — exactly what the messenger repeats here.
1 Samuel 3:11 prophesied a shocking event that would make ears tingle — this verse reports its fulfillment in the disaster.
1 Samuel 2:31 prophesied that Eli's house would be cut off with no one reaching old age — this verse reports the death of his sons, fulfilling that prophecy.
In 1 Samuel 2:34, a prophecy that Hophni and Phinehas would die on the same day is fulfilled here.
In 1 Samuel 5:1, the Philistines take the ark to Ashdod, continuing the narrative immediately after this report.
Psalm 78:64 recalls priests falling by the sword, a direct reference to the deaths of Hophni and Phinehas here.
Psalm 44:10 laments Israel's flight from the enemy, matching the defeat and slaughter reported here.