Eli the High Priest Part I

When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness God instructed Moses that his brother Aaron and his fours sons were to be set aside to serve as Priest for Israel. In Numbers 20:25-28, Aaron’s third son Eleazar succeeds him as High Priest. The reason Eleazar succeeded his father because God had killed his older brothers, Nadab and Abihu for making an improper sacrifice.

Also in the book of Numbers we find that Eleazar has a son named Phinehas, who is a dedicated servant of God. He kills a Jewish man and a Moab women for committing adultery. The story is found in Numbers 25, the affair caused God to be angry with Israel. Phinehas brave act saved Israel from God’s wrath. Phinehas succeeded his father as High Priest.

When we read in the book of I Samuel we see that Eli was the High Priest. But Eli was neither a descendent of Phinehas or Eleazar. He was a descendent of Aaron’s fourth son Ithamar. This went against God’s instructions and caused Israel problems for many years.
You may ask yourself why did the elders of Israel permit Eli to serve as High Priest?
At this period of time in Israel’s history God wanted to be their King, but the Israelites would continue to rebel against God. So God would permit their neighbor’s, the Moabites, Philistines, Ammonites, and Midianites, to hold them captive. Israel would repent and God would call a man to serve as Judge. The Judge would defeat the oppressing nation and Israel’s freedom would be restored. But when the Judge died Israel would once again turn against God. After the death of Samson it would be many years before God would send a Judge.

At the end of the book of Judges we find nation Israel had turned completly away from God. The nation became involved in immorality and idolatry. There is even civil war among the twelve tribes. But as the book of I Samuel begins we see one mighty man of God was on the scene. It was Eli the High Priest. As Judge he had made a impression on the people, and was one of the few from the Priestly family who had stayed faithful to God during a dark period in Israel's history. This may be reason he was made High Priest.

Eli the High Priest Part II is coming soon.