Oil on Canvas 200cmx150cm. 2017
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ELI THE HIGH PRIESTIn the book of 1 Samuel, Hannah dedicates her son Samuel to the service of God under the guardianship of the High Priest Eli.
Meanwhile, Eli’s two sons behave wickedly and although Eli is aware of this, he rebukes them too lightly and the sons continue their sinful lifestyle. Eli is told by a man of God that he and his male descendants will be punished for this. A curse is placed on Eli and his male descendants. |
The Story behind the Painting
Eli was both High Priest and Judge after the death of Samson. He resided in the Tabernacle in Siloh, an ancient city in Samaria. There is no exact record of the years he lived, but we know that Samuel, born in 1105 BC, grew up under Eli’s guidance.
It was there that Hannah came to pray for a son. She had been childless for many years. She vowed that if God would bless her with a son, she would consecrate him to the Lord for all the days of his life. Eli witnesses her and expressed to her his prayerful wish that “God may grant you what you have asked of him.”
Shortly thereafter, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son and named him Samuel. Hannah was true to her promise; after he was weaned, Hannah took him to the sanctuary in Siloh where she turned him over to Eli to be brought up by him.
Young Samuel was particularly attached to Eli and faithfully followed his instructions. Eli was more proud of him than his two own sons, Hophni and Pinehas, who did not follow in their father’s footsteps. As priests, they took advantage of their position. Before the eyes of the people, they violated God’s fellowship-offering laws (Lev. 7:31-36) and slept with the women serving in the tabernacle. Eli rebukes his sons, but apparently not strong enough, as they continued their sinful lifestyle.
One day a man of God came to Eli and brought him a stern message from God. In it Eli was held accountable for his sons’ misconduct. He was told that his sons would die on the same day, and that the priesthood would pass on from his house to that of another.
The same prophesy was soon repeated in Samuel’s first divine revelation, while he was still very young. One night when he lay down to rest at the tabernacle, he heard a voice calling his name. He sprang up and rushed to Eli, thinking that he had called his name. But Eli told him to go back, for he had not called him. This is repeated three times and then Eli becomes aware that it was the Lord who had called Samuel. He then told the boy, “Go and lie down, and when you hear God calling you, say, “Speak O Lord, for your servant is listening.”
The message Samuel receives from God that night was distressing, “I will punish Eli’s house forever, for the offense that he knew that his sons made themselves accursed, but restrained them not”.
The following morning Samuel tells Eli that God’s punishment, earlier prophesized by the man of God, will be carried out.
The painting depicts Eli sitting up in his bed looking anxious. Then Eli said,” He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”
Eli was both High Priest and Judge after the death of Samson. He resided in the Tabernacle in Siloh, an ancient city in Samaria. There is no exact record of the years he lived, but we know that Samuel, born in 1105 BC, grew up under Eli’s guidance.
It was there that Hannah came to pray for a son. She had been childless for many years. She vowed that if God would bless her with a son, she would consecrate him to the Lord for all the days of his life. Eli witnesses her and expressed to her his prayerful wish that “God may grant you what you have asked of him.”
Shortly thereafter, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son and named him Samuel. Hannah was true to her promise; after he was weaned, Hannah took him to the sanctuary in Siloh where she turned him over to Eli to be brought up by him.
Young Samuel was particularly attached to Eli and faithfully followed his instructions. Eli was more proud of him than his two own sons, Hophni and Pinehas, who did not follow in their father’s footsteps. As priests, they took advantage of their position. Before the eyes of the people, they violated God’s fellowship-offering laws (Lev. 7:31-36) and slept with the women serving in the tabernacle. Eli rebukes his sons, but apparently not strong enough, as they continued their sinful lifestyle.
One day a man of God came to Eli and brought him a stern message from God. In it Eli was held accountable for his sons’ misconduct. He was told that his sons would die on the same day, and that the priesthood would pass on from his house to that of another.
The same prophesy was soon repeated in Samuel’s first divine revelation, while he was still very young. One night when he lay down to rest at the tabernacle, he heard a voice calling his name. He sprang up and rushed to Eli, thinking that he had called his name. But Eli told him to go back, for he had not called him. This is repeated three times and then Eli becomes aware that it was the Lord who had called Samuel. He then told the boy, “Go and lie down, and when you hear God calling you, say, “Speak O Lord, for your servant is listening.”
The message Samuel receives from God that night was distressing, “I will punish Eli’s house forever, for the offense that he knew that his sons made themselves accursed, but restrained them not”.
The following morning Samuel tells Eli that God’s punishment, earlier prophesized by the man of God, will be carried out.
The painting depicts Eli sitting up in his bed looking anxious. Then Eli said,” He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”