Topical Bible: Blindness: Eli

◄ Blindness: Eli ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Eli, a significant figure in the Old Testament, served as a priest and judge of Israel. His account is primarily found in the First Book of Samuel. Eli's life and leadership are marked by both his dedication to God and his personal and familial challenges, including his eventual blindness.

Priesthood and Leadership

Eli was a descendant of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron, and served as the high priest at Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. He is introduced in 1 Samuel 1, where he encounters Hannah, the mother of Samuel, praying fervently for a child. Misunderstanding her silent prayers for drunkenness, Eli initially rebukes her but then blesses her upon realizing her sincerity (1 Samuel 1:12-17).

Eli's role as a judge and priest placed him in a position of significant spiritual and judicial authority over Israel. He is noted for his mentorship of the young Samuel, who would later become a pivotal prophet in Israel's history. Eli's guidance helped Samuel grow in wisdom and favor with the Lord (1 Samuel 2:26).

Family and Failings

Despite his leadership, Eli's household was marred by the sinful behavior of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They served as priests under Eli but were corrupt, engaging in immoral acts and showing contempt for the Lord's offerings (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Eli's failure to restrain his sons and their wickedness brought divine judgment upon his family.

A man of God delivered a prophecy to Eli, declaring that his house would suffer consequences due to the iniquity of his sons and his own failure to discipline them (1 Samuel 2:27-36). This prophecy foreshadowed the tragic events that would unfold, leading to the downfall of Eli's lineage.

Blindness and Death

Eli's physical blindness is mentioned in 1 Samuel 3:2, where it is noted that "his eyes had grown dim so that he could not see" . This detail serves as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness that had affected his judgment regarding his sons' behavior. Eli's inability to see physically parallels his inability to perceive and correct the moral failings within his family.

The culmination of Eli's account occurs in 1 Samuel 4. During a battle with the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant is captured, and Eli's sons are killed. Upon hearing the news, Eli, who was ninety-eight years old, fell backward from his seat, broke his neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:15-18). His death marked the end of an era and the beginning of Samuel's leadership in Israel.

Eli's life serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of spiritual vigilance and the consequences of neglecting one's responsibilities, both as a leader and a parent. His blindness, both physical and spiritual, underscores the need for discernment and faithfulness in serving God.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 4:15
Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Child Prophet
... the gates, that the singular arrangement was made of his sleeping in the Temple;
and the reason for the previous parenthesis about Eli's blindness may have ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the child prophet.htm

The Hebrews, Then, as I have Narrated Above, were Living According ...
... because he himself, being burdened with years, and afflicted with blindness, could
not ... Eli, when the news of the calamity was brought to him, being overwhelmed ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxx the hebrews then.htm

The Judges.
... 6) The career of Samuel including the judgeship of Eli, 1 Sam. ... is caused by religious
apostasy; (b) It evidences itself in religious blindness, political folly ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm

Faithlessness and Defeat
... A stronger word is used to describe his blindness than in 1 Samuel 3:2, as the ... of
himself is shameless in its avowal of his cowardice, and prepares Eli for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/faithlessness and defeat.htm

The First Kings.
... in consequence of these departures from the Lord, and strange melancholy blindness
to their ... favor, and who early entered the temple-service under Eli, was the ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... by the will and command of God, and yet be forthwith punished for his blindness. ...
from the Lord, as the revolt of the ten tribes, the death of Eli's sons, and ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... In reference to the sons of Eli, the Scripture says""they hearkened not unto ... is the
act of God, who punishes that sin by merited desertion, and blindness. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

Instruction for the Ignorant:
... also God giveth them up to their own heart's lusts, to blindness of mind ... Thus sinned
Ishmael, Esau, Eli's sons, Absalom and Judas, they had good company, good ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/instruction for the ignorant .htm

Election Confirmed by the Calling of God. The Reprobate Bring Upon ...
... in enigmas, so that they may not profit by it, but be given over to greater blindness. ...
In like manner, when it is said of the sons of Eli, that they would not ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 24 election confirmed by.htm

The King after Man's Heart
... The dash of human infirmity and fatherly blindness gives reality to the picture. ...
While everything was rushing down to destruction in Eli's time, and his sons ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the king after mans heart.htm