| Eli - ēīli 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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