Ἠλεί
Eli
Translated by Antonella Ippolito15 Mar 2006Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
A priest in Israel. His sons were Ophni and Phinees: [it was they] whom divine justice sought out because of their drunkenness and their lack of discipline in performing sacrifices. For they were killed in a terrible way in war, but he [died] after having heard the voice of God saying: "I say, thy household will walk before me for ever. and now [I do not say] in this way [any more], but [I say that] I will honour those who honour me, and those who despise me shall be held in the lowest esteem; and I shall utterly destroy thy seed from my altar." And again: "look, I exact vengeance from the house of Eli for ever, for the impious actions of his sons".