Eli
The high priest at Shiloh who judged Israel for forty years and raised the boy Samuel in the sanctuary. He mistook Hannah's silent prayer for drunkenness, then blessed her and received her son. His own sons Hophni and Phinehas treated the offerings with contempt, and though he rebuked them he never restrained them — for which judgement was pronounced on his house. Old and nearly blind, he sat watching the road for news of the ark; when told it had been captured and both sons killed, he fell backwards from his seat and died.
What we know — and how we know it
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus recounts Eli's tenure as high priest and judge at Shiloh, the wickedness of his sons, and his death on hearing of the ark's capture, closely following the biblical narrative.
Where in scripture
1 Samuel1 KingsThis 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 1:3
So 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 1:9
As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli saw her mouth.
1 Samuel 1:12
Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
1 Samuel 1:13
Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!”
1 Samuel 1:14
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
1 Samuel 1:17 — Blesses Hannah
They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
1 Samuel 1:25
Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest.
1 Samuel 2:11
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 11 recorded sayings
“And Eli said to her, How long are you going to be the worse for drink? Put away the effects of your wine from you.” — 1 Samuel 1:14
“Then Eli said to her, Go in peace: and may the God of Israel give you an answer to the prayer you have made to him.” — 1 Samuel 1:17
“And every year Eli gave Elkanah and his wife a blessing, saying, May the Lord give you offspring by this woman in exchange for the child you have given to the Lord. And they went back to their house.” — 1 Samuel 2:20
“And he said to them, Why are you doing such things? for from all this people I get accounts of your evil ways. No, my sons, the account which is given me, which the Lord's people are sending about, is not good. If one man does wrong to another, God will be his judge: but if a man's sin is against the Lord, who will take up his cause? But they gave no attention to the voice of their father, for it was the Lord's purpose to send destruction on them.” — 1 Samuel 2:23-25
“And running to Eli he said, Here am I, for you said my name. And Eli said, I did not say your name; go to your rest again. So he went back to his bed.” — 1 Samuel 3:5
“And again the Lord said, Samuel. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here am I; for you certainly said my name. But he said in answer, I said nothing, my son; go to your rest again.” — 1 Samuel 3:6
“So Eli said to Samuel, Go back: and if the voice comes again, let your answer be, Say on, Lord; for the ears of your servant are open. So Samuel went back to his bed.” — 1 Samuel 3:9
“Then Eli said, Samuel, my son. And Samuel answering said, Here am I.” — 1 Samuel 3:16
…and 3 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
In art
