Eli. [Heb. Elé, probably a short form of Eléel occurring in Nabataean, meaning "God is exalted," or of Elyah, meaning "Yahweh is exalted."] A high priest, descended from Aaron's youngest son Ithamar (1 Sa 1:9; 1 Ki 2:27; 1 Chr 24:3, 6). He had become high priest of the tabernacle at Shiloh toward the end of the period of the judges, being the first of his line to hold that office, according to Josephus (Ant. v. 11. 5; viii. 1. 3). It is not certain which of Eleazar's descendants was his predecessor, or why the office was changed from one family to the other. Eli also occupied the office of judge for 40 years (1 Sa 4:18). His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who also were priests, were extremely wicked (ch 2:12-17). Because Eli failed to deal firmly with their misconduct, an unnamed prophet denounced his house and predicted its downfall (vs. 23-36). Later the boy Samuel, who lived at the tabernacle and ministered "to the Lord under Eli," was given a special revelation confirming this message (ch 3:1-18). A partial fulfilment came when Eli's two sons, who carried the ark to the camp of the Israelites as a hoped-for aid in a war against the the Philistines, were slain in battle, and the ark was taken. Eli, who was then 98 years of age, upon receiving the news fell from his chair, broke his neck, and died (ch 4:1-18). The final fulfilment came when Solomon removed Abiathar, Eli's descendant, from the high priesthood (1 Ki 2:26, 35). Thereafter, the descendants of Eleazar held the high priesthood -- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary.