| Eli - ē´li International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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| (עלי,
‛ēlī):
A descendant of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron, who exercised the office
of high priest in Shiloh at the time of the birth of Samuel. For the first
time in Israel, Eli combined in his own person the functions of high
priest and judge, judging Israel for 40 years (1Sa
4:18). The incidents in Eli's life are few; indeed,
the main interest of the narrative is in the other characters who are
associated with him. The chief interest centers in Samuel. In Eli's first
interview with Hannah (1Sa 1:12),
she is the central figure; in the second interview (1Sa
1:24), it is the child Samuel. When Eli next
appears, it is as the father of Hophni and Phinehas, whose worthless and
licentious lives had profaned their priestly office, and earned for them
the title “men of Belial” (or “worthlessness”). Eli administered no stern
rebuke to his sons, but only a gentle chiding of their greed and
immorality. Thereafter he was warned by a nameless prophet of the downfall
of his house, and of the death of his two sons in one day (1Sa
2:27-36), a message later confirmed by Samuel, who
had received this word directly from Yahweh Himself (1Sa
3:11). The prophecy was not long in fulfillment.
During the next invasion by the Philistines, the Israelites were utterly
routed, the ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas were both
slain. When the news reached Eli, he was so overcome that he “fell from
off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he
died” (1Sa 4:18).
The character of Eli, while sincere and devout, seems to have been
entirely lacking in firmness. He appears from the history to have been a
good man, full of humility and gentleness, but weak and indulgent. His is
not a strong personality; he is always overshadowed by some more
commanding or interesting figure.
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Taken from: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia by James Orr, M.A., D.D., General Editor |
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