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) However, Abiathar was removed as priest by Solomon for having offered help to the rebellious conspirator Adonijah. (1 Ki. 1:7; 2:26, 27) Thus the judgment of Jehovah on Eli’s house was fulfilled and his descendants were ousted from the high-priestly office for all time.—1 Sam. 3:13, 14.

ELI, II

(Eʹli) [my God].

As Jesus was dying on the torture stake, about the ninth hour, or about 3 p.m., he called out: “Eʹli, Eʹli, laʹma sabachthaʹni?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34) Bystanders thought that he was calling for Elijah. Perhaps they misunderstood Jesus’ words because his speech was indistinct due to his intense suffering, and/or because his dialect differed from theirs. In calling out to his heavenly Father, acknowledging him as his God, Jesus fulfilled Psalm 22:1.

ELIAB

(E·liʹab) [God is a father].

1. Son of Helon of the tribe of Zebulun; one of the twelve chieftains designated by Jehovah to aid Moses and Aaron in numbering the sons of Israel for the army. (Num. 1:1-4, 9, 16) Eliab was over the army of his tribe, which was a part of the three-tribe division of the camp of Judah. (Num. 2:3, 7; 10:14-16) In addition to sharing in the group presentation made by the chieftains after the setting up of the tabernacle, chieftain Eliab thereafter represented his tribe individually in presenting an offering on the third day for the inauguration of the altar.—Num. 7:1-3, 10, 11, 24-29.

2. Son of Pallu of the tribe of Reuben; father of Nemuel. Eliab’s other sons, Dathan and Abiram, supported Korah in his rebellion against Moses and were swallowed up along with their households by the miraculous opening up of the earth.—Num. 16:1, 12; 26:8-10; Deut. 11:6.

3. A Levite of the family of Kohathites and an ancestor of Samuel the prophet. (1 Chron. 6:22, 27, 28, 33, 34) His name is given as Eliel at 1 Chronicles 6:34 and as Elihu at 1 Samuel 1:1.

4. The firstborn of King David’s father Jesse. (1 Sam. 17:13; 1 Chron. 2:13) Eliab’s appearance and the height of his stature so impressed Samuel that he concluded this one was God’s choice for the kingship. Jehovah, though, had rejected Eliab and selected David.—1 Sam. 16:6-12.

Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, the three oldest sons of Jesse, were in Saul’s army at the time the Philistine champion Goliath directed his challenge to the men of Israel. Shortly before Goliath again came up from the battle lines of the Philistines to taunt Israel, David, having been sent by his father, arrived on the scene with provisions of food for his three brothers. Angered greatly by David’s making inquiry among the Israelite warriors about the reward to be received by the one striking down Goliath, Eliab lashed out against David, suggesting that he was negligent in caring for his shepherding duties and accusing him of being presumptuous and having a bad heart. (This account about David’s errand and Eliab’s anger is omitted by the Vatican Manuscript No. 1209.)—1 Sam. 17:13, 17, 26-28.

Much later David’s son Jerimoth, it seems, married Abihail the daughter of Eliab.—2 Chron. 11:18.

5. One of the Gadites who attached themselves to David while he was still under restriction because of King Saul. The Gadites are described as “valiant, mighty men,” with the least one being equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.—1 Chron. 12:1, 8, 9, 14.

6. A Levite musician of the second division who assisted with the music when King David had the ark of Jehovah moved to Jerusalem from the house of Obed-edom.—1 Chron. 15:18, 20, 25; 16:5.

ELIADA

(E·liʹa·da) [God knows].

1. A son of David born at Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 5:13-16; 1 Chron. 3:5-8) Called Beeliada at 1 Chronicles 14:7.—See BEELIADA.

2. Father of a resister of Solomon named Rezon.—1 Ki. 11:23.

3. A Benjamite army officer commanding 200,000 bowmen during Jehoshaphat’s reign.—2 Chron. 17:12, 17.

ELIAHBA

(E·liʹah·ba) [God conceals].

A Shaalbonite; one of David’s mighty men.—2 Sam. 23:32; 1 Chron. 11:33.

ELIAKIM

(E·liʹa·kim) [God raises up].

1. Son of Hilkiah; chief administrator of the affairs of the house of Hezekiah the king of Judah at the time the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah in 732 B.C.E.

While Shebna was still “over the house,” the prophet Isaiah foretold that he would be ripped from this position and replaced by Eliakim, whom Jehovah calls “my servant.” The transfer was to be made by clothing Eliakim with Shebna’s official robe and sash. Also, “the key of the house of David” was to be placed upon Eliakim’s shoulder, suggesting that he would be entrusted with the oversight of the king’s chambers and the authority to decide who might be accepted into the service of the king.—Isa. 22:15-24.

Acting in this official capacity, Eliakim, Shebna the secretary and Joah, apparently the recorder, came out to speak with Rabshakeh, who had come to Jerusalem with a heavy military force to demand the surrender of the city. Then, with garments ripped apart, the three of them reported the words of Sennacherib’s spokesmen to King Hezekiah, who, in turn, proceeded to send Eliakim, Shebna and the older men of the priests to Isaiah to make inquiry of Jehovah.—Isa. 36:11, 22; 37:1, 2; 2 Ki. 18:17, 18, 26, 36, 37; 19:1, 2.

2. King of Judah (628-618 B.C.E.) whom Pharaoh Nechoh placed upon the throne, changing his name to Jehoiakim. Eliakim was King Josiah’s son.—2 Ki. 23:34; see JEHOIAKIM.

3. One of the Levite priests with the trumpets who was in the procession arranged by Nehemiah at the inauguration of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem.—Neh. 12:31, 41.

4. An ancestor of Jesus’ foster father Joseph.—Matt. 1:13.

5. An ancestor of Jesus’ earthly mother Mary.—Luke 3:30.

ELIAM

(E·liʹam) [God is kinsman].

1. Father of Bath-sheba. (2 Sam. 11:3) Called Ammiel at 1 Chronicles 3:5.

2. One of David’s mighty men; son of Ahithophel. (2 Sam. 23:34) He may possibly have been the same as No. 1 above, which would make Bath-sheba the granddaughter of Ahithophel.

ELIASAPH

(E·liʹa·saph) [God has added].

1. Son of Deuel (or Reuel) of the tribe of Gad; one of the twelve chieftains whom Jehovah selected to assist Moses and Aaron in taking the sum of the males for the army. (Num. 1:1-4, 14; 2:14) Eliasaph was over the army of his tribe, which was a part of the three-tribe division of the camp of Reuben. (Num. 2:10-15; 10:18-20) Besides sharing in the group presentation made by the chieftains after the setting up of the tabernacle, Eliasaph thereafter represented his tribe individually in presenting an offering on the sixth day for the inauguration of the altar.—Num. 7:1, 2, 10, 42-47.

2. Son of Lael and chieftain of the paternal house of the Gershonites. Under the direction of Eliasaph, the Gershonites transported the tent coverings and the screen of the tabernacle entrance, the screen of the courtyard entrance and the hangings of the courtyard as well as the tent cords.—Num. 3:21-26.