a high priest of the Hebrews, of the race of Ithamar, who succeeded Abdon, and governed the Hebrews, both as priest and judge, during forty years. How Eli came to the high priesthood, and how this dignity was transferred from Eleazar’s family to that of Ithamar, who was Aaron’s youngest son, we know not. This much, however, is certain, that it was not done without an express declaration of God’s will, 1Sa 2:27, &c. In the reign of Solomon, the predictions in relation to Eli’s family were fulfilled; for the high priesthood was taken from Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, and given to Zadok, who was of the race of Eleazar, 1Ki 2:26.
Eli appears to have been a pious, but indolent man, blinded by paternal affection, who suffered his sons to gain the ascendancy over him; and for want either of personal courage, or zeal for the glory of God sufficient to restrain their licentious conduct, he permitted them to go on to their own and his ruin. Thus he carried his indulgence to cruelty; while a more dignified and austere conduct on his part might have rendered them wise and virtuous, and thereby have preserved himself and family. A striking lesson for parents! God admonished him by Samuel, then a child; and Eli received those awful admonitions with a mind fully resigned to the divine will. “It is the Lord,” said he, “let him do what seemeth him good.” God deferred the execution of his vengeance many years. At length, however, Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli, were slain by the Philistines, the ark of the Lord was taken, and Eli himself, hearing this melancholy news, fell backward from his chair and broke his neck, in the ninety-eighth year of his age, 1Sa 4:12; 1Sa 4:18.
E´li (the highest), high-priest of the Jews when the ark was in Shiloh (1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 1:9). He was the first high-priest of the line of Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son. This is deduced from 1Ch 24:3; 1Ch 24:6. It also appears from the omission of the names of Eli and his immediate successors in the enumeration of the high-priests of Eleazar’s line in 1Ch 6:4-6. What occasioned this remarkable transfer is not known—most probably the incapacity or minority of the then sole representative of the elder line; for it is very evident that it was no unauthorized usurpation on the part of Eli (1Sa 2:27-28). Eli also acted as regent or civil judge of Israel after the death of Samson. This function, indeed, seems to have been intended, by the theocratic constitution, to devolve upon the high-priest, by virtue of his office, in the absence of any person specially appointed by the Divine King, to deliver and govern Israel. He is said to have judged Israel forty years (1Sa 4:18). As Eli died at the age of ninety-eight (1Sa 4:15), the forty years must have commenced when he was fifty-eight years old.
Eli seems to have been a religious man; and the only fault recorded of him was an excessive easiness of temper, most unbefitting the high responsibilities of his official character. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whom he invested with authority, misconducted themselves so outrageously as to excite deep disgust among the people, and render the services of the tabernacle odious in their eyes. Of this misconduct Eli was aware, but contented himself with mild and ineffectual remonstrances, where his station required severe and vigorous action. For this neglect the judgment of God was at length denounced upon his house, through the young Samuel, who, under peculiar circumstances [SAMUEL], had been attached from childhood to his person (1Sa 2:29; 1Sa 3:18). Some years passed without any apparent fulfillment of this denunciation—but it came at length in one terrible crash, by which the old man’s heart was broken. The Philistines had gained the upper hand over Israel, and the ark of God was taken to the field, in the confidence of victory and safety from its presence. But in the battle which followed, the ark itself was taken by the Philistines, and the two sons of Eli, who were in attendance upon it, were slain. The high-priest, then blind with age, sat by the way-side at Shiloh, awaiting tidings from the war, ’for his heart trembled for the ark of God.’ A man of Benjamin, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head, brought the fatal news: and Eli heard that Israel was defeated—that his sons were slain—that the ark of God was taken—at which last word he fell heavily from his seat, and died (1 Samuel 4).
The ultimate doom upon Eli’s house was accomplished when Solomon removed Abiathar (the last high-priest of this line) from his office, and restored the line of Eleazar in the person of Zadok [ABIATHAR].
A high priest of the Jews, the first in the line of Ithamar, 1Sa 2:27 . He was also a judge of Israel forty years, and was eminent for piety and usefulness, but criminally negligent of family discipline. For this the judgments of God fell upon his house, 1Sa 3:11-18 . In battle with the Philistines his two sons were slain, and Israel defeated; but it was the capture of the ark of God that broke his heart, 1Sa 4:1-22 . The divine threatening was fully performed in the day of Abiathar, which see.\par
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.
Sprung from Ithamar, Aaron’s younger surviving son (Lev 10:1-2; Lev 10:12). (Compare ABIATHAR.) (1Ki 2:26-27; 1Ch 24:3; 2Sa 8:17). Compare Eleazar’s genealogy, wherein Eli and Abiathar do not appear (1Ch 6:4-15; Ezr 7:1-5). No high priest of Ithamar’s line is mentioned before Eli, whose appointment was of God (1Sa 2:30). His grandson Ahitub succeeded (1Sa 14:3). Abiathar. Ahitub’s grandson, was thrust out by Solomon for his share in Adonijah’s rebellion and the high priesthood reverted to Eleazar’s line in Zadok (1Ki 2:35). The transfer was foretold to Eli by the unnamed man of God first, and by the child Samuel next (1Sa 2:3): a punishment from God, because though Eli reproved his wicked sons Hophni and Phinehas in word he did not in act, put forth his authority as a judge to punish, coerce, and depose them, "because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."
Another part of the curse, "I will cut off the arm of thy father’s house that. there shall not be an old man in thine house," was being fulfilled in David’s days, when "there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar (16) than of the sons of Ithamar" (8) (1Ch 24:4). Eli’s grace shone in the meekness with which he bowed to the Lord’s sentence, "It is the Lord, let Him do what, seemeth Him good." His patriotism and piety especially appear in his intense anxiety for the safety of the ark; "his heart trembled for the ark of God." The announcement after the battle, of the slaughter of the people and even of his sons did not so much overwhelm him as that of the ark of God: instantly "he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke and he died; for he was old and heavy." The Hebrew Scriptures make his term of office as judge 40 years; the Greek Septuagint 20 years.
Some reconcile the two by making him co-judge with Samson for 20 years, and sole judge for 20 more years. He was 98 years of age at his death. His failing and its penalty are a warning to all parents, even religious ones, and all in authority, to guard against laxity in ruling children and subordinates in the fear of the Lord, punishing strictly, though in love, all sin, jealous for God’s honor even at the cost of offending man and of painting natural parental feeling. Condoning sin is cruel to children as well as dishonoring to God. Children will respect most the parent who respects God. Perhaps Eli clung to office too long, when through age he was no longer able vigorously to fulfill it. He who cannot rule his own house is unfit to rule the house of God (1Ti 3:5).
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Eli (ç’li), summit, the highest, according to some, adopted of the Lord. A noted high priest and judge of Israel. He was of the family of Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son; for his descendant Ahimelech or Abiathar, 1Sa 14:3; 1Sa 22:20; 2Sa 8:17, is expressly said to be of that house. 1Ch 24:3. We do not know how or when the high priesthood passed from Eleazar’s family to that of Ithamar; but because of Eli’s sin in not restraining his ungodly sons, it reverted again to the elder line. 1Sa 2:22-25; 1Ki 2:35. With the exception of this great fault, of which he was repeatedly warned, Eli appears to have been a holy man. To him was committed the charge of Samuel the prophet when a child. And his anxiety for the ark of God, carried with the Israelitish army to battle, is graphically depicted in the sacred history. He sat watching for news in the open road; and when he heard the disastrous intelligence, the death of his two sons, and, worst of all the capture of the ark by the Philistines, he who could have borne the desolation of his own house sank down in grief, and his neck brake, and he died. He was 98 years old, and had judged Israel 40 years: some of these years probably including the time of Samuel. 1Sa 1:1-28; 1Sa 2:1-36; 1Sa 3:1-21; 1Sa 4:1-22. Part of the fulfillment of the threatening against Eli’s house is noted in 1Ki 2:27.
[E’li]
Descendant of Ithamar, and high priest in Israel. It is not recorded whom he succeeded; the book of 1 Samuel opens with Eli as priest. Samuel was lent to the Lord by his pious mother, and he ministered unto the Lord before Eli. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ’sons of Belial:’ they assisted their father, but interfered with the due offering of the sacrifices, and sinned greatly before the people. Eli spoke to his sons of their evil doings, but he did not with energy prevent the dishonour to the Lord. It should be remembered that the responsibility of maintaining Israel, the people of the Lord, before Him, rested on the priestly house, hence the enormity of the young men’s sin, and the solemnity of Eli’s negligent conduct. A man of God came and told Eli plainly that he honoured his sons before the Lord, and detailed some judgements that should befall his house, and that his two sons should be slain in one day.
As Eli allowed his sons to continue in their evil ways, God sent a message to him by Samuel, reminding him of the judgements of which the man of God had warned him, and repeating that it was because "his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not." Alas, poor Eli merely said, "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good." A pious remark, but which did not correct the evil. This was Eli’s great failing, though he otherwise apparently cared for God’s honour. He trembled when the ark of God was carried to the war, which ended so disastrously. His two sons were killed and the ark was taken by the Philistines, and ’Ichabod’ - ’the glory is departed’ - marked the state of Israel through Eli’s sin. When Eli heard these sad tidings he fell backward, and his neck brake. He had judged Israel forty years and was 98 years old. 1 Sam. 1 - 1 Sam. 4. Abiathar his descendant was thrust from the priesthood by Solomon that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled which He spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 1Ki 2:27.
[E’li]
An Aramaic word signifying, ’My God.’ Mat 27:46. It seems strange that this should have been understood to be a calling for ’Elias.’ The mistake may have been by some who did not understand the language used. See ELOI.
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By: Emil G. Hirsch, Eduard König
High priest at Shiloh and judge over Israel (I Sam. i. 3, iv. 18, xiv. 3; I Kings ii. 27). He was a descendant of Aaron's fourth son Ithamar (Lev. x. 12), for it is stated that Abiathar (I Sam. xxii. 20; I Kings ii. 27) was of the line of Ithamar (I Chron. xxiv. 3), and Abiathar was the son of Ahimelek, the son of Ahitub (I Sam. xiv. 3), Eli's grandson.
Eli held a twofold office: he was high priest at the central sanctuary of Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept (ib. i. 3, 12; iii. 2), and he was a judge in Israel, as is expressly stated in ib. iv. 18. Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whose wickedness brought grief and disgrace upon him and his family (ib. ii. 12-17, 27-36).
Eli lived in a sad period of Israel's history. Shortly before, the armies of the Philistines, probably strengthened by reenforcements (Guthe, "Geschichte des Volkes Israel," 1899, p. 65), had begun to overrun the central districts from the south western border of Palestine (Josephus, "Ant." v. 8, § 1). Samson had arisen, "to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (Judges xiii. 5); but after his death the attacks were renewed, and Israel was obliged to take up arms (I Sam. iv. 1). In order to assure themselves of God's help the Israelites brought the Ark from Shiloh to the seat of the war, where it was carried by Eli's two sons. But God had not decreed victory to His people. They were first to be punished by disaster. Therefore the Israelitish army was defeated; Eli's two sons were killed, and the Ark was lost. When the messenger who brought the news of the battle told of the capture of the Ark Eli, who was ninety-eight years old, fell from his seat and died (ib. iv. 10-18).
The only specific Old Testament reference to the term of Eli's life is in the words, "And he had judged Israel forty years" (ib. iv. 18). Some scholars, like Kessler ("De Chronologia Judicum et Primorum Regum," pp. 29 et seq.) and Nowack ("Richter-Ruth," p. 19), have inferred that the forty years of the Philistine oppression mentioned in Judges xiii. 1 are synchronous with the twenty years ascribed to Samson (Judges xv. 20, xvi. 31) and with Eli's forty years. But this assumption does not tally with the words of the Old Testament; the years of Samson's judgeship are set forth in the same way as those of Eli's. The Book of Judges, moreover, always mentions the years of oppression in contrast to the period of a judge's dispensation; and, finally, Eli's forty years do not, as a whole, appear to have been a period of oppression.
Biblical criticism has advanced few new theories in regard to Eli's life. The only point that has been made with some probability is mentioned by H. P. Smith ("Samuel," in "International Critical Commentary," p. 20): "An earlier source on Eli's life contained originally some further account of Eli and of Shiloh, which the author [of the Books of Samuel] could not use. One indication of this is the fact that Eli steps upon the scene in i. 3 without introduction." H. P. Smith also admits that great difficulties are encountered "in assigning a definite date to either of our documents."
Bibliography:
H. P. Smith, Samuel, in International Critical Commentary, 1899;
H. Guthe, Gesch. des Volkes Israel, 1899, pp. 53, 67;
Hans Kessler, De Chronologia Judicum et Primorum Regum, pp. 12, 29 et seq., Leipsic, 1882.
ELI (possibly an abbreviated form of Eliel, ‘God is high’).—The predecessor of Samuel as ‘judge,’ and high priest in the sanctuary at Shiloh. Excepting in the final scene of his life, every time he comes before us it is in connexion with others who occupy the position of greater interest. Thus in his interviews with Hannah, in the first one it is she in whom the chief interest centres (1Sa 1:12 ff.); in the second it is the child Samuel (1Sa 1:24 ff.). The next time he is mentioned it is only as the father of Hophni and Phinehas, the whole passage being occupied with an account of their evil doings (1Sa 2:12 ff.). Again, in 1Sa 2:27 ff., Eli is mentioned only as the listener to ‘a man of God’ who utters his prophecy of evil. And lastly, in his dealings with the boy Samuel the whole account (ch. 3) is really concerned with Samuel, while Eli plays quite a subsidiary part. All this seems to illustrate the personality of Eli as that of a humble-minded, good man of weak character; his lack of influence over his sons only serves to emphasize this estimate.
W. O. E. Oesterley.
Heli the Judge and High PriestHeli (Heb. ELI, Gr. HELI) was both judge and high-priest, whose history is related in I Kings, i-iv. He lived at Silo, where the ark of the Lord was kept at that time. Samuel’s early history is connected with that of the last days of the aged Heli, whom he succeeded in the office of judge, just before the appointment of Saul as king (1 Samuel 7:15; 8:22). Heli must have been held in the highest esteem, and yet the Bible represents him to us in his old age as weak and indulgent to his sons, Ophni and Phinees, whose crimes brought ruin on their country and on their father’s house. The high-priesthood had been promised to Phinees, son of Eleasar and grandson of Aaron, for his zeal (Numbers 25:13); and how Heli, who was a descendant of Aaron through Ithamar (Leviticus 10:12; 1 Chronicles 24:2; 1 Kings 2:27), became high-priest is not known; but his title to the office had the Divine sanction (1 Samuel 2:30). The Lord spoke to Heli through the boy Samuel, and the word of the Lord was fulfilled. The Philistines were victorious in battle, Ophini and Phinees being among the slain, and the ark was carried away as a part of the spoils. The death of the high-priest is thus described: "Now Heli was ninety and eight years old. . .he fell from his stool backwards by the door, and broke his neck, and died" (1 Samuel 4:15-18). According to the Heb. Text, with which Josephus agrees (Ant., V, xi, 3), Heli judged Israel forty years, so that the twenty of the Gr. Text is generally considered an error. Heli spoke when he should have been silent (I Kings, I, 14), and he was silent when he should have spoken and corrected his children. The words "And thou shalt see thy rival in the temple" (1 Samuel 2:32) refer to the taking of the high-priesthood from his family; but as this was done in the days of Solomon, more than a hundred years later, for he "cast out Abiathar, from being the priest of the Lord" (III Kings, ii, 27; Josephus, "Ant.", VIII, i, 3), they were addressed, not to Heli as an individual, but rather to his house. The passage however is obscure.Heli the Father of JosephHeli (Gr. HELEI -- Luke 3:23) is evidently the same name as the preceding. In Luke he is said to be the father of Joseph, while in Matt., I, 16, Jacob was Joseph’s father. The most probable explanation of this seeming contradiction is afforded by having recourse to the levirate law among the Jews, which prescribes that when a man dies childless his widow "shall not marry to another; but his brother shall take her, and raise up seed for his brother" (Deuteronomy 25:5). The child, therefore, of the second marriage is legally the child of the first (Deuteronomy 25:6). Heli having died childless, his widow became the wife of his brother Jacob, and Joseph was the offspring of the marriage, by nature the son of Jacob, but legally the son of Heli. It is likely that Matt. gives the natural, and Luke the legal descent. (Cf. Maas, "The Gosp. acc. to S. Matt.", i, 16.) Lord A. Hervey, Bishop of Bath and Wells, who wrote a learned work on the "Genealogies of Our Lord Jesus Christ", thinks that Mary was the daughter of Jacob, and Joseph was the son of Jacob’s brother, Heli. Mary and Joseph were therefore first cousins, and both of the house of David. Jacob, the elder, having died without male issue, transmitted his rights and privileges to the male issue of his brother Heli, Joseph, who according to genealogical usage was his descendant.----------------------------------- JOSEPHUS, Ant., V, ix, x, xi; GEIKIE, O. T. Characters: Eli, 184-193; MALDONATUS, In Matt., i, 16; Eccl. Rev. (Jan., 1896), 21 sqq. THOMAS J. TIERNEY Transcribed by Thomas M. Barrett Dedicated to grandfathers and their special grandsons The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIICopyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
At the time when Eli was chief priest and chief administrator in Israel, the tabernacle was at Shiloh, in central Israel. Eli sat outside the tabernacle to give advice and settle disputes, while his sons carried out the routine work connected with the sacrifices and ceremonies (1Sa 1:3; 1Sa 1:9; 1Sa 4:18).
Eli’s sons were corrupt, but Eli did not remove them from office, even though he disagreed with their conduct. God announced to Eli, first through a prophet and then through the boy Samuel, that he would punish Eli’s household with shame, poverty and early death. Only one would be left functioning as a priest, and eventually he too would be removed (1Sa 2:12-36; 1Sa 3:11-14). (For the fulfilment of these prophecies see 1Sa 4:11; 1Sa 14:3; 1Sa 22:11-20; 1Ki 2:26-27.)