The Benjamite ran to Shiloh to convey news of the battle and the loss of the ark. It is likely that Shiloh served as something like a capital for Israel in the days of the judges, seeing as it was where the tabernacle was located. Though nothing is reported in the narrative of what happened to Shiloh after this defeat, the fact that Eli’s descendants are later found in Nob (1 Samuel 21:1 – 22:23) indicates that the Philistines destroyed Shiloh shortly after this battle (see Jeremiah 7:12–14; Jeremiah 26:6; Psalm 78:60–64).1
12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.