1st Samuel 4:12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
1st Samuel 4:13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What means the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
1st 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. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off of his seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
Thus, it becomes apparent that the renting of one’s clothes is associated with grim foreboding, calamity, grave danger, or very bad news. So, again, we do not know exactly what Shaphan the scribe, had read to the king out of the book of the law, but whatever it was it was so very grievous that the king was moved to rent his clothes.
2nd Kings 22: 11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!