| Eli Smith's Bible Dictionary
|
|
| E'li.
(ascension). A descendant of Aaron through Ithamar, the youngest of
his two surviving sons. Lev 10:1-2;
Lev 10:12,
compare 1Ki 2:27
with 2Sa 8:17;
1Ch 24:3.
(B.C. 1214-1116). He was the first of the line of Ithamar who held the
office of high priest. The office remained in his family till Abiathar
was thrust out by Solomon, 1Ki 1:7;
1Ki 2:26-27,
when it passed back again to the family of Eleazar in the person of
Zadok.
1Ki 2:35. Its
return to the elder branch was one part of the punishment which had been
denounced against Eli during his lifetime, for his culpable negligence,
1Sa 2:22-25,
when his sons profaned the priesthood; compare
1Sa 2:27-36 with
1Ki 2:27. Notwithstanding this one great blemish, the character of Eli is marked by eminent piety, as shown by his meek submission to the divine judgment, 1Sa 3:18, and his supreme regard for the Ark of God. 1Sa 4:18. In addition to the office of high priest, he held that of judge. He died at the advanced age of 98 years, 1Sa 4:18, overcome by the disastrous intelligence that the Ark of God had been taken in battle by the Philistines, who had also slain his sons Hophni and Phinehas.
|
|
| Taken from: Smith's Bible Dictionary by Dr. William Smith (1884) | |