Priests and Levite · Judge · Old Testament
The Story of Eli
Priest at Shiloh who judged Israel forty years and raised Samuel.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Eli was the priest at Shiloh when Hannah prayed for a son. She brought the child Samuel to serve the LORD under Eli. 1 Samuel 1:9–281 Samuel 2:11
Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas treated the LORD's offerings with contempt, and a man of God and the young Samuel announced judgment on his house. 1 Samuel 2:12–361 Samuel 3:11–18
When he heard that the ark was taken and his sons were dead, Eli fell and died. He had judged Israel forty years. 1 Samuel 4:12–18
Told in: 1 Samuel
Life at a glance
- Sons
- Hophni and Phinehas 1 Samuel 1:3
- Judged
- Forty years 1 Samuel 4:18
- Ancestry
- Not stated in 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 1:3
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Eli
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Blesses Hannah
Eli mistakes Hannah's prayer for drunkenness, then blesses her.
Raises Samuel
1 Samuel 2:11 · 1 Samuel 3:1–18
Samuel serves before the LORD under Eli and hears the LORD call.
Dies when the ark is taken
News of the battle reaches Shiloh; Eli falls and dies.
Family and relationships
- SamuelServed under him1 Samuel 2:111 Samuel 3:1
- HophniSon1 Samuel 1:3
- PhinehasSon1 Samuel 1:3
- HannahHe blessed her1 Samuel 1:17
Family tree and genealogy
Each relationship links to its passage in the family tree.
Books associated with Eli
- 1 Samuel Their story appears here
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
PrayerLeadership
- What did Eli tell the young Samuel to say in 1 Samuel 3:9?
Read offline
Save this story, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: 1 Samuel. The story uses the books already on your device; it never stores a second copy.