Eli

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OT Judges

High priest and judge at Shiloh who raised the boy Samuel, but whose failure to restrain his own corrupt sons in the priesthood brought judgment on his household and, ultimately, his own sudden death.

For younger readers

Eli was the high priest at Israel's place of worship, and he was the one who raised young Samuel after Samuel's mother Hannah brought him to serve God there. Eli was kind to Hannah and to Samuel, but he wasn't firm enough with his own two sons, who were priests but treated their sacred job badly and did wrong, dishonest things. Even though Eli spoke to them about it, he didn't stop them, and God warned that serious consequences would come. Sadly, both of Eli's sons died in the same battle where Israel's sacred ark was captured by enemies, and when Eli heard the sad news, he fell over and died too. Eli's story reminds parents and leaders that it's important to lovingly but firmly guide those we're responsible for, not just talk about what's right.

Life Story

Eli served as Israel's high priest and judge at Shiloh, where he first appears mistaking Hannah's silent, anguished prayer for drunkenness, then blessing her request for a son (1 Samuel 1:12-17). When Hannah's son Samuel was weaned, she brought him to serve under Eli at the tabernacle, and Eli effectively raised him (1 Samuel 1:24-28; 2:11). But Eli's own sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were corrupt priests who took the best portions of offerings by force and committed immorality with women serving at the tabernacle entrance; Eli rebuked them verbally but never removed them from office, and Scripture faults him for honoring his sons above God (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 29). A man of God warned Eli that his sons would die on the same day and his priestly line would lose its privileged place, a judgment God repeated directly to the boy Samuel one night, confirming to Eli it would not be revoked (1 Samuel 2:27-36; 3:11-14). When the Philistines defeated Israel, captured the ark of the covenant, and killed both Hophni and Phinehas, a messenger ran to tell Eli; the news of the ark's capture, more than his sons' deaths, made the ninety-eight-year-old Eli fall backward off his seat, breaking his neck (1 Samuel 4:12-18).

First named in 1 Samuel 1:3-25

References: 1 Samuel 1:3-25; 1 Samuel 2:11-27; 1 Samuel 3:1-16; 1 Samuel 4:4-18; 1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Kings 2:27

Genealogy

Father

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Mother

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Spouse(s)

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Children

Hophni, Phinehas

Connections

Eli — begot → Hophni
Eli — begot → Phinehas

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