Eli
עֵלִי · e.li · H5941“Eli, my God, my God; the offering or lifting up” Hitchcock's 186930 mentions in 2 books, most in 1 Samuel (29)
Who he was
Eli, a prominent figure in 1 Samuel, served as the high priest and judge of Israel at the tabernacle in Shiloh. He first appears in the narrative when Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prays at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:9–17). Eli initially misunderstands her prayer but later blesses her. After Samuel's birth, Hannah dedicates him to serve under Eli at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:25–28). However, Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked and did not follow God's ways (1 Samuel 2:12–17). Eli failed to restrain their behavior, leading to a prophecy of judgment against his family (1 Samuel 2:27–36). Eli continued to serve as the high priest and judge, while Samuel grew up in the tabernacle (1Samuel 3). In his old age, Eli received news of Israel's defeat by the Philistines, the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, and the death of his sons. Upon hearing this, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died at the age of 98 (1 Samuel 4:12–18). His death marked the end of an era and the beginning of Samuel's leadership as a prophet and judge.
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Family
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
30 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
1 Samuel29 mentions
1 Samuel 1:3This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.1 Samuel 1:9So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of Yahweh’s temple.1 Samuel 1:12As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.1 Samuel 1:13Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.1 Samuel 1:14Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”1 Samuel 1:17Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”1 Samuel 1:25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.1 Samuel 2:11Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest.1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn’t know Yahweh.1 Samuel 2:20Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.” Then they went to their own home.1 Samuel 2:22Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.1 Samuel 2:27A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?1 Samuel 3:1The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then.1 Samuel 3:2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),1 Samuel 3:5He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down.1 Samuel 3:6Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.”1 Samuel 3:8Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.1 Samuel 3:9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.1 Samuel 3:12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.1 Samuel 3:14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever.”1 Samuel 3:15Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision.1 Samuel 3:16Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He said, “Here I am.”1 Samuel 4:4So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there…1 Samuel 4:11God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.1 Samuel 4:13When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for God’s ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.1 Samuel 4:14When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, “What does the noise of this tumult mean?” The man hurried, and came and told Eli.1 Samuel 4:15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see.1 Samuel 4:16The man said to Eli, “I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” He said, “How did the matter go, my son?”1 Samuel 14:3including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.
What the dictionary says
Ascent, the high priest when the ark was at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:3, 9).
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain