How much joy did Eli rejoice, for he was king, and head of the court, and high priest, as it is said (in I Sam. 1:9): NOW ELI THE PRIEST WAS SITTING UPON THE SEAT BY THE DOORPOST OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. [Now Eli the priest, who was high priest, WAS SITTING UPON THE SEAT, because he was king; BY THE DOORPOST OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, because he was head of the court.] Yet he did not remain in his joy, but rather (in I Sam. 4:18): AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE MENTIONED THE ARK OF GOD, THAT HE FELL FROM OFF THE SEAT BACKWARD…. And his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. And if this is what happened to Eli the righteous, with the wicked how much the more so! Therefore it is said (in Ps. 75:5): I SAID TO THE MERRYMAKERS: DO NOT MAKE MERRY.
Eli Falls From His Throne and Joy Does Not Endure
Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shmini 3:7
עלי כמה שמחה שמח, שהיה מלך, ואב בית דין, וכהן גדול, שנאמר ועלי [הכהן] יושב על הכסא על מזוזת היכל ה' (ש"א א ט), [ועלי הכהן שהיה כהן גדול יושב על הכסא שהיה מלך, על מזוזת היכל ה' שהיה אב בית דין], ולא המתין בשמחתו, אלא ויהי (בהזכירו) [כהזכירו] את ארון (ה') [האלהים] ויפל מעל הכסא אחורנית וגו' (שם ד יח), ומתו שני בניו חפני ופנחס, ומה (הצדיקים) [עלי הצדיק] כך, הרשעים על אחת כמ וכמה, לכך נאמר אמרתי להוללים אל תהולו.