(ascension), a descendant of Aaron through Ithamar, the youngest of his two surviving sons (Leviticus 10:1-2, 12, comp. 1 Kings 2:27 with 2 Samuel 8:17 and 1 Chronicles 24:3). He was the first of the line of Ithamar who held the office of high priest. The office remained in his family till Abiathar was thrust out by Solomon (1 Kings 1:7; 2:26-27) when it passed back again to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok (1 Kings 2:35). Its return to the elder branch was one part of the punishment which had been denounced against Eli during his lifetime, for his culpable negligence (1 Samuel 2:22-25), when his sons profaned the priesthood (comp. 1 Samuel 2:27-36 with 1 Kings 2:27). Notwithstanding this one great blemish, the character of Eli is marked by eminent piety, as shown by his meek submission to the divine judgment (1 Samuel 3:18) and his supreme regard for the ark of God (1 Samuel 4:18). In addition to the office of high priest he held that of judge. He died at the advanced age of 98 years (1 Samuel 4:18), overcome by the disastrous intelligence that the ark of God had been taken in battle by the Philistines, who had also slain his sons Hophni and Phinehas.