| Eli
This article contains a free Bible Study resource on the subject of Eli. It provides facts, a biography and information about this famous Biblical character for bible study. There is also reference to where Eli is mentioned in the Holy Bible. Bible Dictionary Definition - Who was Eli?
The definition and outline of Eli is as follows: According to the Books of Samuel, the name of a priest of Shiloh, and one of the last Israelite Judges before the rule of kings in ancient Israel. Eli Bible Story Biography, Facts and Information about Eli
The following info provides a concise biography with facts and information about Eli: the high priest when the ark was at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3,9). He was the first of the line of Ithamar, Aaron's fourth son (1 Chronicles 24:3; Compare 2 Samuel 8:17), who held that office. The office remained in his family till the time of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26,27), whom Solomon deposed, and appointed Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, in his stead (35). He acted also as a civil judge in Israel after the death of Samson (1 Samuel 4:18), and judged Israel for forty years.
His sons Hophni and Phinehas grossly misconducted themselves, to the great disgust of the people (1 Samuel 2:27-36). They were licentious reprobates. He failed to reprove them so sternly as he ought to have done, and so brought upon his house the judgment of God (2:22-33; 3:18). The Israelites proclaimed war against the Philistines, whose army was encamped at Aphek. The battle, fought a short way beyond Mizpeh, ended in the total defeat of Israel. Four thousand of them fell in "battle array". They now sought safety in having the "ark of the covenant of the Lord" among them. They fetched it from Shiloh, and Hophni and Phinehas accompanied it. This was the first time since the settlement of Israel in Canaan that the ark had been removed from the sanctuary. The Philistines put themselves again in array against Israel, and in the battle which ensued "Israel was smitten, and there was a very great slaughter." The tidings of this great disaster were speedily conveyed to Shiloh, about 20 miles distant, by a messenger, a Benjamite from the army. There Eli sat outside the gate of the sanctuary by the wayside, anxiously waiting for tidings from the battle-field. The full extent of the national calamity was speedily made known to him: "Israel is fled before the Philistines, there has also been a great slaughter among the people, thy two sons Hophni and Phinehas are dead, and the ark of God is taken" (1 Samuel 4:12-18). When the old man, whose eyes were "stiffened" (i.e., fixed, as of a blind eye unaffected by the light) with age, heard this sad story of woe, he fell backward from off his seat and died, being ninety and eight years old. Eli
We have selected Eli as one of the most important people and character from the Bible and provided a biography and character outline of this famous person. Much of the information is taken from the classic reference books including Matthew George Easton "Easton's Bible Dictionary" and Ashley S Johnson "Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia". Eli - A Free Christian Bible Study Resource
We hope that this Eli article will provide useful information and ideas for those following a Bible Study plan. This article about Eli, together with other tools, activities, aids and materials and are designed to be used by an individual or a Christian Bible study group. This biography of Eli may prove useful as the basis for fun Sunday School lessons for Christian children and kids other topics will prove a useful asset to teens, youth or adults taking a Bible Study course or Biblical degree. All information on this Eli page is free to be used as an educational Christian Bible Study resource. Eli |
