Ahaz (761-745 B.C.E.), it was wrested from Judah by the Syrians and was reoccupied by the Edomites, thereafter never returning to the Judeans. (2 Ki. 16:6) The Masoretic text here reads “Syrians” or “Arameans” (from the Hebrew ʼaroh·mimʹ) instead of “Edomites” (ʼadhoh·mimʹ). Most current authorities, however, accept the latter reading, in the margin, believing that a scribal error confused the Hebrew letter daʹleth (ד) with the similar-shaped letter rehsh (ר).

Essentially an oasis, Elath was a stopping point on the caravan route leading from south Arabia to Egypt, Canaan or Damascus. Along with Ezion-geber, it was also located at the gateway for the “ships of Tarshish” that plied the waters to and from Arabia, East Africa and possibly India. (1 Ki. 10:22; 9:26, 27) Aramaic writings, such as wine receipts from the period of the Persian Empire, have been found in the area, also remnants of high-quality pottery of Grecian style, perhaps intended for transshipment to Arabia.

Some scholars suggest that El-paran mentioned at Genesis 14:6 is another name for Elath. This view is based primarily on the somewhat similar meaning of the names, El-paran meaning “big tree of Paran.” The Scriptural indications as to El-paran’s location are not sufficient, however, to make a conclusive identification.

EL-BERITH

See BAAL-BERITH.

EL-BETHEL

(El-bethʹel) [the God of Bethel].

The name given by Jacob to the spot where he erected an altar in obedience to God’s command. (Gen. 35:1, 7) Certain scholars consider “The God of Bethel” to be an unlikely name for a location, and note that the translators of the Septuagint, Vulgate, Peshitta and Arabic versions omitted the initial “El” from the name. However, it should be remembered that the area around Bethel was full of meaning for Jacob. It was in this area some twenty years earlier that God revealed himself to Jacob in a dream, promising to protect him. At that time the patriarch was moved to respond, “Truly Jehovah is in this place.” (Gen. 28:10-22) Since this was the case, when later naming the altar site, Jacob was saying in effect, ‘God is in Bethel.’—Compare Genesis 33:20.

ELDAAH

(El·daʹah) [possibly, God has called].

A son of Midian the fourth-named son of Abraham by Keturah.—Gen. 25:1, 2, 4; 1 Chron. 1:33.

ELDAD

(Elʹdad) [God has loved].

One of the seventy older men selected by Moses to assist him in carrying the load of the people. Because of murmuring on the part of the mixed crowd and also the Israelites about the manna and not having meat to eat, Moses voiced the feeling that the load was too heavy for him alone. Therefore Jehovah directed Moses to gather seventy older men and take them to the tent of meeting. Two of these older men, Eldad and Medad, however, did not go to the tent of meeting but, undoubtedly for a valid reason, remained in the camp. Jehovah then proceeded to take some of the spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon the older men; these, in turn, began to prophesy. The spirit also settled down upon Eldad and Medad and they began to act as prophets in the camp. This was reported to Moses, and when Joshua, feeling jealous for Moses, requested that he restrain them, Moses replied: “No, I wish that all of Jehovah’s people were prophets, because Jehovah would put his spirit upon them!”—Num. 11:13-29.

ELEAD

(Eʹle·ad) [God has testified].

Likely, son of Ephraim who was killed along with his brother Ezer by the men of Gath “because they came down to take their livestock.”—1 Chron. 7:20, 21; see EPHRAIM No. 1.

ELEADAH

(E·le·aʹdah) [God has adorned].

One of Ephraim’s descendants.—1 Chron. 7:20.

ELEALEH

(E·le·aʹleh).

A site regularly mentioned with Heshbon and located in the pastoral country E of the Jordan. The tribe of Reuben “built” (or rebuilt) the city soon after its conquest. (Num. 32:3-5, 37) Centuries later when it was under Moab’s control, Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied that Elealeh was due to “cry out” at that nation’s collapse. (Isa. 15:4; 16:9; Jer. 48:34) It is usually thought to be located on a hill at el-ʽAl, a little less than two miles (3.2 kilometers) NE of Heshbon.

ELEASAH

(El·e·aʹsah) [God has made].

1. Son of Helez and father of Sismai, a descendant of Judah through Jerahmeel. Jarha, an Egyptian slave who married his master Sheshan’s daughter, was one of the forefathers of Eleasah.—1 Chron. 2:33, 34, 39, 40.

2. A descendant of Jonathan the son of King Saul.—1 Chron. 8:33-37; 9:39-43.

3. A priest of “the sons of Pashhur” among those heeding Ezra’s exhortation to dismiss their foreign wives.—Ezra 2:36, 38; 10:22, 44.

ELEAZAR

(E·le·aʹzar) [God has helped].

1. The third-named son of High Priest Aaron by his wife Elisheba. Eleazar was of the family of Kohath the son of Levi. (Ex. 6:16, 18, 20, 23; Num. 3:2) Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, constituted the priesthood of Israel at the time of its installation by Moses.—Lev. chap. 8.

In the second year after leaving Egypt, when the tabernacle had been set up, Eleazar is mentioned as being chief of the Levites. (Num. 1:1; 3:32) He must have been at least thirty years of age at the time, inasmuch as he was performing priestly duties.—Num. 4:3.

Eleazar was one of those above twenty years of age who had left Egypt and who also entered the Promised Land. Being of the tribe of Levi, he was not included in God’s condemnation expressed against the other twelve tribes, that none of them from twenty years old upward would enter the Promised Land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. Levi had no representative among the twelve spies, ten of whom brought back bad reports, and the Levites apparently were not included in the faithless, rebellious murmuring against Jehovah.—Num. 13:4-16; 14:26-30.

Shortly after the dedication of the tabernacle and the consecration of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood (Lev. chap. 8), Nadab and Abihu offered up illegitimate fire to Jehovah and were killed by fire proceeding from Jehovah. (Lev. 10:1, 2; Num. 3:2-4) Aaron, with his two faithful sons Eleazar and Ithamar, continued to carry on the priesthood. With the division of duties in the care of the sanctuary, Eleazar had oversight of the tabernacle with its utensils, constant grain offering, oil and incense. (Num. 4:16) At Jehovah’s command Eleazar took up the copper fire holders that Korah and the others associated with him (none of whom were priests) had used to offer up incense to Jehovah in a desire to take over priestly duties. These were made into thin metal plates with which the altar was overlaid. (Num. 16:37-40; Heb. 9:13) Eleazar officiated at the sin offering of the red heifer that provided the ashes for cleansing from certain uncleannesses.—Num. 19:2, 3.

After the Israelites went to war to punish the Midianites for the affair of Peor, Eleazar was on hand to aid in dividing the spoils taken from the Midianites and to declare God’s statute regarding the things taken.—Num. 31:6, 21-41.

Phinehas, Eleazar’s son by one of the daughters of Putiel, for zealous action in behalf of pure worship at the time Israel sinned in connection with the Baal of Peor, was rewarded by Jehovah with a covenant of peace. This may be considered as added to the covenant for the priesthood Jehovah had made with the tribe of Levi.—Num. 25:1-13; Ex. 6:25.

BECOMES HIGH PRIEST

In the fortieth year of the wilderness journey, upon Aaron’s death at the age of 123 years, Eleazar, then about 70 years of age, became high priest. (Num. 33:37-39) Eleazar, therefore, was the first high priest of Israel to officiate in the Promised Land when they entered about eight months later. (Num. 20:25-28; Deut. 10:6; Josh. 4:19) It was before Eleazar that Joshua was to stand to be appointed as Moses’ successor, and Eleazar was to continue to give support to Joshua in the appointment and to transmit to him Jehovah’s decisions on questions of importance according to the judgment of the Urim and the Thummim. (Num. 27:18-23) Eleazar also worked together with Joshua in the distribution of the Promised Land after the conquest of Canaan.—Josh. 14:1; 21:1-3.

HEAD OF MAJOR PRIESTLY HOUSE

The time of Eleazar’s death is not stated in the Scriptures with exactness, but it seems to have been near the time of Judge Joshua’s death. Eleazar was succeeded by his son Phinehas. (Josh. 24:29, 30, 33; Judg. 20:27, 28) Eleazar manifested the trait of zeal for Jehovah’s true worship and conducted the priesthood with honor all his days. Jewish tradition holds that during the time the tabernacle was in Shiloh there were sixteen courses of priests, eight in the family of Eleazar and eight in that of his brother Ithamar. However, in David’s time there were more chief men in the family of Eleazar than of Ithamar. Therefore David made sixteen priestly divisions of the house of Eleazar and eight of the house of Ithamar, making a total of twenty-four divisions that served in turn later at the temple.—1 Chron. 24:1-4.

2. The son of Abinadab who was sanctified to guard the sacred Ark that was brought to the house of his father in the city of Kiriath-jearim, after its return by the Philistines.—1 Sam. 7:1, 2.

3. Son of Dodo the Ahohite; one of David’s three outstanding mighty men. At Pas-dammim, during a military campaign with David, Eleazar distinguished himself by taking his stand in a field full of barley and single-handedly striking down the Philistines, “so that Jehovah saved with a great salvation.”—1 Chron. 11:12-14; 2 Sam. 23:9, 10.

4. Son of Mahli the Merarite of the tribe of Levi. Eleazar did not have any sons but only daughters. Therefore, the sons of Kish, their cousins, took them as wives.—1 Chron. 23:21, 22.

5. Son of a certain Phinehas, mentioned as assisting Meremoth the priest when, on the fourth day of Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem, the silver and the gold and the utensils for temple use were weighed out.—Ezra 8:29, 32, 33.

6. A Levite priest in the procession arranged by Nehemiah at the inauguration of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem.—Neh. 12:42.

7. An ancestor of Jesus’ foster father Joseph.—Matt. 1:15.

ELEAZER

(E·le·aʹzer) [God has helped].

A descendant of Parosh among those having taken foreign wives but who followed through on Ezra’s exhortation to dismiss them.—Ezra 10:25, 44.

ELECTRUM

The shining alloy of gold and silver, which, when heated in the furnace, has a quivering beauty and glowing yellow brilliance all its own.—Ezek. 1:4, 27; 8:2.

ELHANAN

(El·haʹnan) [God is gracious].

1. The son of Jair who, in war with the Philistines, struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite. (1 Chron. 20:5) In 2 Samuel 21:19 Elhanan is identified as the “son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite.” However, it is generally agreed that the original reading of 2 Samuel 21:19 corresponded to 1 Chronicles 20:5, the difference in the two texts having arisen through scribal error.—See LAHMI.

2. Son of Dodo of Bethlehem; one of David’s mighty men.—2 Sam. 23:24; 1 Chron. 11:26.

ELI, I

(Eʹli) [Jah is high, ascent or high-placed].

A high priest of Israel; evidently a descendant of Aaron’s fourth-named son Ithamar.(Compare 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Kings 2:27; 1 Chronicles 24:3; Exodus 6:23.) In addition to serving as high priest, Eli judged Israel for forty years. Samuel began to be a prophet during his lifetime. (1 Sam. 4:18; 3:10-13, 19-21) Eli’s day was one characterized by spiritual famine in Israel, for “word from Jehovah had become rare in those days; there was no vision being spread abroad.”—1 Sam. 3:1.

The first glimpse of Eli is given in chapter one of First Samuel. Eli is seated outside by the doorpost of the tabernacle, and is rebuking righteous Hannah, whom he judges to be drunk, when actually she has been praying extendedly before Jehovah there in front of the tabernacle. Upon Hannah’s reply that she is not drunk but has spoken out of the abundance of her concern and vexation, Eli dismisses her in peace. Jehovah answers Hannah’s prayer and she gives birth to a son whom she names Samuel. As soon as he is weaned she, in keeping with her vow, turns him over for service at the tabernacle.—1 Sam. 1:9-18, 20, 24, 28; 2:11, 18.

LAX IN DISCIPLINING SONS

As a father, high priest and judge of Israel, Eli is lax in applying Jehovah’s discipline. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, serve as officiating priests, but they are “good-for-nothing men,” only interested in satisfying their bellies and unclean sexual desires. They are not content with the portion of the sacrifice assigned to them by God’s law, and even serve themselves ahead of Jehovah by having an attendant demand raw meat from the offerer before making the fat smoke upon the altar. Eli’s greedy, sensual sons, in effect, carry on vice and theft at the tent of meeting at the expense of Jehovah’s pure worship. Even when his corrupt sons have immoral intercourse with the women who serve at the entrance of the tabernacle, Eli does not oust them from office but merely rebukes them mildly. Eli keeps honoring his sons more than Jehovah.—1 Sam. 2:12-17, 22-25, 29.

In the course of time a prophet of God comes with a message of dire warning: The power and influence of the house of Eli is to be chopped off, so that there will not come to be an old man in his house. His corrupt sons are appointed to die in one day. (1 Sam. 2:27-36) Through none other than the young boy Samuel, Jehovah reaffirms the adverse judgment upon the house of Eli. (1 Sam. 3:11-14) Samuel is afraid to relate the message, but does so at Eli’s request. Eli then meekly submits, saying: “It is Jehovah. What is good in his eyes let him do.”—1 Sam. 3:15-18.

JEHOVAH JUDGES HIS HOUSE

Retribution comes according to God’s word. Israel loses about 4,000 men in battle with the Philistines. The Israelites decide to get the Ark from Shiloh and to bring it into the camp, thinking that this will result in deliverance from their enemies. But the Philistines step up their battle efforts. Thirty thousand Israelites are slain. The Ark is captured. Hophni and Phinehas, who are there with the Ark, die. A man from Benjamin hurries from the battle lines to bring the report to Eli. Blind and feeble, ninety-eight-year-old Eli is sitting on a seat by the roadside, his heart atremble concerning the Ark. Upon hearing that the Ark has been captured, Eli falls over backward and dies of a broken neck.—1 Sam. 4:2-18.

Further retribution against the house of Eli came at the hands of King Saul, who ruthlessly ordered the murder of the priests of Nob, the descendants of Eli through Phinehas’ son Ahitub. (1 Sam. 14:3; 22:11, 18) Only Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped the massacre and continued serving as priest throughout David’s reign. (1 Sam. 22:20; 2 Sam. 19:11)