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.