Eli. (1 Sam. ii. 11.) A descendant of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron, and successor of Abdon, as high priest and judge of Israel. In consequence of his negligence or injudicious management of his two sons Hophni and Phinehas, he suffered severe chastisement. Samuel was directed to disclose to Eli the judgments that would come upon his family, (1 Sam. iii. 13, 14,) chiefly because of his neglect of paternal duty. The old man received the intelligence with remarkable submission; but it was not until twenty-seven years after, that God fulfilled his threatenings. Then his two sons were both slain in the same battle with the Philistines, into whose hands the ark of God fell. The aged priest, then in his ninety-eighth year, was so overwhelmed when these calamities were made known to him, that he fell backward from his seat, and broke his neck. He had governed the Hebrews in all their concerns, civil and religious, for the long period of forty years. (1 Sam. iv. 18.) Samuel, (1 Sam. i. 20,) the son of Elkanah and Han- nah, was a celebrated Hebrew prophet, and the last of their judges. While he was a child, he officiated in some form in the temple, and was favored with remarkable revelations.
